Dell Precision M40 User Manual
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Understanding Error Messages: Dell Precision™ Mobile Workstation M40 User's Guide
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 "
." The messages are listed alphabetically.
System Error Messages
NOTE: If the message is not listed in "
," 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.
Message
Cause
Action
Auxiliary device failure
The touch pad, track stick, 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 drive controller
failure 1
The CD drive does not respond to
commands from the computer.
Turn off the computer, remove the drive, and boot the
computer from a bootable floppy disk. Then turn off the
computer again, reinstall the drive, and reboot the
computer. If the problem persists, try another drive. Then run
the CD drive tests in the
Dell Diagnostics
.
Data error
The floppy or hard drive cannot read the
data.
Run the appropriate utility to check the file structure of the
floppy drive or hard 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 drive failed initialization.
Run the hard drive tests in the
Dell Diagnostics
.
floppy drive 0 seek
failure
A cable may be loose, or the system
configuration information may not match the
hardware configuration.
Run the floppy drive 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 floppy disk may
be faulty.
If the
access light lights up, try a different floppy disk.
Diskette subsystem reset
failed
The floppy drive controller may be faulty.
Run the floppy drive tests in the
Dell Diagnostics
.
Diskette write-protected
Because the floppy disk is write-protected,
the operation cannot be completed.
Slide the write-protect notch up.
Drive not ready
No floppy disk is in the floppy drive, or no
hard drive is in the drive bay. The operation
requires a floppy disk in the drive or a hard
drive in the bay before it can continue.
Put a floppy disk in the drive, or push the floppy disk all the
way into the drive until the eject button pops out. Or, install a
hard 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 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 floppy disk. Then turn off the