Advanced troubleshooting, Diagnostic codes – Dell Dimension 2350 User Manual
Page 2
Back to Contents Page
Advanced Troubleshooting
Dell™ Dimension™ 2350 Series
Diagnostic Codes
To help you troubleshoot a problem, your computer is equipped with four lights on the
back panel
labeled "A," "B," "C," and "D." These lights can be yellow,
green, or off. When the computer starts normally, the lights flash. After the computer starts, the lights remain green. If the computer malfunctions, the color
and sequence of the lights identify the problem.
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities
Reinstalling Microsoft® Windows® XP
CAUTION:
Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in your Owner's Manual.
Diagnostic Code
Definition
Corrective Action
The computer is in its normal
off condition or a possible pre-
BIOS failure has occurred.
Ensure that the computer is connected to a known working electrical outlet, and then check whether
the front-panel power light on the
power button
is on or off. If the power light is off, check the power
supply. If the problem persists, see "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's Manual for instructions on
obtaining technical assistance.
See the safety instructions in your Owner's Manual, and then
remove all cards
. If the computer still
does not start, see "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's Manual for instructions on obtaining technical
assistance.
The computer is in a BIOS
failure recovery mode.
See "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's Manual for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
The microprocessor has failed
a BIOS test.
See "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's Manual for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
Memory modules are detected,
but a memory failure has
occurred.
l
If you have one memory module installed,
reinstall it
and restart the computer.
l
If you have two or more memory modules installed, remove the modules,
reinstall one module
,
and then restart the computer. If the computer starts normally, reinstall an additional module.
Continue until you have identified a faulty connector or reinstalled all modules without error.
l
If available, install properly working
memory of the same type
into your computer.
l
If the problem persists, see "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's Manual for instructions on
obtaining technical assistance.
PCI bus failure has occurred.
1.
Determine if a conflict exists by
removing a card
and then restarting the computer.
2.
If the problem persists,
reinstall the card
that you removed, remove a different card, and then
restart the computer.
3.
Repeat this process for each card. If the computer starts normally, troubleshoot the last card
removed from the computer for resource conflicts (see "
Resolving Software and Hardware
l
If the problem persists, see "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's Manual for instructions on
obtaining technical assistance.
The video controller failed to
initialize or respond.
See "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's Manual for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
No memory modules are
detected.
l
Reseat all memory modules
, and then restart the computer.
l
To eliminate the possibility of a faulty memory connector,
remove all memory modules
,
reinstall
one memory module
(if the computer supports a single module), and then restart the computer.
If the computer starts normally, move the memory module to a different connector and restart
the computer. Continue until you have identified a faulty connector or reinstalled all modules
without error.
l
If the problem persists, see "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's Manual for instructions on
obtaining technical assistance.
System board failure has
occurred.
See "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's Manual for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
Memory modules are detected,
but a memory configuration or
compatibility error exists.
l
Be sure that there are no special memory module/memory connector placement
requirements
.
l
Verify that the memory modules that you are installing are
compatible with the computer
.
l
If the problem persists, see "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's Manual for instructions on
obtaining technical assistance.