Dell Inspiron 3700 - Manual (Page 160)

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
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 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.