 |
Error Messages | |
Memory Allocations |
|
System Flash Codes | |
I/O Memory Map |
|
Avoiding Interrupt Assignment Conflicts |
|
Error Messages | |
Memory Allocations |
|
System Flash Codes | |
I/O Memory Map |
|
Avoiding Interrupt Assignment Conflicts |
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.
 |
NOTE: If the message is not listed in Table 1, see the documentation for the application program or the operating system documentation for an explanation of the message and a recommended action. |
Table 1. System Error Messages
| Message | Cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Auxiliary device failure | The touch pad or external 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. 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 and detach the CD-ROM drive from the media bay connector. Reboot the computer. Turn off the computer again, reattach the CD-ROM drive to the computer, and verify the media-bay cable connection to the back of the CD-ROM drive. Reboot the computer. If the problem persists, 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 module in the upgrade socket. If the problem persists, remove the memory module from the upgrade socket. If the problem still persists, call Dell for technical assistance. |
| Disk C: failed initialization | The hard-disk drive failed initialization. | Remove and reseat the hard-disk drive, and reboot the computer. If the problem persists, boot from the diagnostics diskette and run the Hard-Disk Drive tests. |
| Diskette drive 0 seek failure | A cable may be loose, or the system configuration information may not match the hardware configuration. | Check and reseat the diskette drive cable. If the problem persists, run the Diskette Drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics and check the setting for the appropriate drive (Diskette Drive A or Diskette Drive B) in the System Setup program. If the problem cannot be corrected, call Dell for technical assistance. |
| 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 Drive 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 drive 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, or push the diskette all the way into the drive until the eject button pops out. Or, install a hard-disk drive in the drive 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 module in the upgrade socket. If the problem persists, remove the memory module from the upgrade socket. If the problem still persists, call Dell for technical assistance. |
| 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 Hard-Disk Drive 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 Hard-Disk Drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics. |
| 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 Hard-Disk Drive 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 Hard-Disk Drive tests in the Dell Diagnostics. |
| Invalid configuration information-please run System Setup Program | The system configuration information does not match the hardware configuration. This message is most likely to occur after a memory module is installed. | Correct the appropriate options in the System Setup program. |
| Keyboard clock line failure | A cable or connector may be loose, or the keyboard may be faulty. | Run the Keyboard Controller 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 Keyboard Controller test in the Dell Diagnostics. |
| Keyboard data line failure | A cable or connector may be loose, or the keyboard may be faulty. | Run the Keyboard Controller 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 Stuck Key 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 module in the upgrade socket. If the problem persists, remove the memory module from the upgrade socket. If the problem still persists, call Dell for technical assistance. |
| 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 module in the upgrade socket. If the problem persists, remove the memory module from the upgrade socket. If the problem still persists, call Dell for technical assistance. |
| 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 | ||
| 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 Set 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 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 Set 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 dead. | 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 match 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 Set 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 Keyboard Controller 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 suspend-to-disk mode or turn off the computer. |
When errors that occur during the boot routine cannot be reported on the display or on an external monitor (if attached), the Num Lock, Caps Lock, and Scroll Lock 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 Num Lock, Caps Lock, and Scroll Lock indicators flash briefly when the computer is turned on. The flash codes, if needed, occur after the boot routine.
Figure 1. Flash Code Indicators
 |
|
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 Diagnostics to identify a more serious cause. If you are still unable to resolve the problem, call Dell for technical assistance.
Table 2. Flash Codes and Corrective Actions
| Message | Cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 1-1-3 | NVRAM write/read failure. | Run the System Set 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 Set 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 Set tests in the Dell Diagnostics. If the program does not load, call Dell for technical assistance. |
| 1-2-2 | DMA initialization failure. | Run the System Set 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 Set 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 Set 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 Set 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 Keyboard Controller test in the Dell Diagnostics. |
| 3-3-4 | Display memory test failure. | Run the Video Memory test in the Dell Diagnostics. |
| 3-4-1 | Display initialization failure. | Run the Video tests in the Dell Diagnostics. |
| 3-4-2 | Display retrace test failure. | Run the Video 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/Infrared Ports tests in the Dell Diagnostics. |
| 5-1-2 | No usable memory. | Run the System Memory tests in the Dell Diagnostics. |
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 device. Then consult Table 3 to configure the device for one of the available IRQ lines.
|
NOTES: Installed devices cannot share the
same COM port address. The default address of your computer's serial port is COM1. To view IRQ line assignments in the Microsoft® Windows® 95 and Windows 98 operating systems, click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Control Panel. Double-click the System icon. Select the Device Manager tab, and then double-click Computer. |
Table 3. IRQ Line Assignments
| IRQ Line | Reserved/Available |
|---|---|
| IRQ0 | Reserved; generated by the system timer |
| IRQ1 | Reserved; generated by the keyboard controller to signal that the keyboard output buffer is full |
| IRQ2 | Reserved; generated internally by the interrupt controller to enable IRQ8 through IRQ15 |
| IRQ3 | Available for use by a PC Card unless the integrated serial port or infrared port is configured for COM2 or COM4 |
| IRQ4 | Available for use by a PC Card unless the integrated serial port or infrared port is configured for COM1 (the default) or COM3 |
| IRQ5 | Available for use by the audio controller |
| IRQ6 | Generated by the diskette drive controller to indicate that the diskette drive requires the attention of the microprocessor |
| IRQ7 | Available for use by a PC Card or audio controller if the parallel port is disabled |
| IRQ8 | Reserved; generated by the system I/O controller's RTC |
| IRQ9 | Reserved |
| IRQ10 | Available for use by a PC Card or audio controller unless the C/Port Family APR or C/Dock Family Expansion Station is attached |
| IRQ11 | Available for use by USB, PC Card, video controller, and audio controller |
| IRQ12 | Reserved; generated by the keyboard controller to indicate that the output buffer of the touch pad or external PS/2 mouse is full |
| IRQ13 | Reserved; generated by the math coprocessor |
| IRQ14 | Reserved; generated by the hard-disk drive to indicate that the drive requires the attention of the microprocessor |
| IRQ15 | Reserved; generated by CD-ROM drive in the external media bay to indicate that the drive requires the attention of the microprocessor |
Table 4 provides a map of the conventional memory area. When the microprocessor or a program addresses a location within the conventional memory range, it is physically addressing a location in main memory.
|
NOTE: To view memory allocations in Windows 95 and Windows 98, click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Control Panel. Double-click the System icon. Click the Device Manager tab, and then double-click Computer. |
Table 4. Conventional Memory Map
| Address Range | Use |
|---|---|
| 0000h-003FFh | Interrupt vector table |
| 00400h-004FFh | BIOS data area |
| 00500h-005FFh | MS-DOS® and BASIC work area |
| 00600h-9FBFFh | User memory |
Table 5 provides a map of the upper memory area. Some of these addresses are dedicated to various system devices, such as the system/video basic input/output system (BIOS). Others are available for use by expansion cards and/or an expanded memory manager (EMM).
When the microprocessor or a program addresses a location within the upper memory area, it is physically addressing a location within one of these devices.
Table 5. Upper Memory Map
| Address Range | Use |
|---|---|
| 0009FC00-0009FFFF | PS/2-mouse data area |
| 000A0000-000BFFFF | Video RAM |
| 000C0000-000CBFFF | Video BIOS |
| 000CC000-000CDFFF | PC Card |
| 000F0000-000FFFFF | System BIOS |
| 00100000-03FFFFFF | High memory area |
| FD000000-FDFFFFFF (approximate; not a fixed location) | Video RAM |
| FF200000-FF2FFFFF (approximate; not a fixed location) | Video RAM |
| FFFE0000-FFFFFFFF | BIOS ROM |
Table 6 provides a map of memory addresses reserved by the computer for peripheral input/output (I/O) devices. Use the information in Table 6 to determine if the memory address of an external device (such as a PC Card) conflicts with a memory address reserved by the computer.
Check the documentation of the external I/O device to determine its memory address. If a device's memory address conflicts with a memory address reserved by the computer, change the address of the device.
|
NOTE: To view I/O addresses in Windows 95 and Windows 98, click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Control Panel. Double-click the System icon. Click the Device Manager tab, and then double-click Computer. |
Table 6. I/O Memory Map
| Address | Device |
|---|---|
| 0000-001F | DMA controller #1 |
| 0020-003F | Interrupt controller #1 |
| 0040-005F | System timers |
| 0060-0060 | Keyboard controller |
| 0061-0061 | System speaker |
| 0064-0064 | Keyboard controller |
| 0070-007F | RTC and NMI enable |
| 0080-009F | DMA page registers |
| 00A0-00BF | Interrupt controller #2 |
| 00C0-00DF | DMA controller #2 |
| 00F0-00FF | Math coprocessor |
| 0170-0177 | CD-ROM drive controller |
| 01F0-01F7 | Hard-disk drive controller |
| 0210-0217 | Audio controller |
| 0220-022F | Audio controller |
| 0270-0277 | Fast IR |
| 0376-0376 | IDE controller |
| 0378-037F | LPT1 |
| 0388-038B | Audio controller |
| 03B0-03BB | VGA |
| 03C0-03DF | VGA |
| 03E0-03E1 | PC Card controller |
| 03E8-03EF | Fast IR |
| 03F2-03F5; 03F7-03F7 |
Diskette controller |
| 03F8-03FF | COM1 |
| 0530-0537 | Audio controller |
| 0778-077B | ECP registers |
| ECE0-ECFF | USB controller |
| FFA0-FFAF | PCI-IDE bus registers |