Tools to help solve problems, Diagnostic lights, Diagnostic light codes during post – Dell Precision 390 User Manual
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Tools to Help Solve Problems
Dell Precision™ Workstation 390 User's Guide
Using Microsoft® Windows® XP System Restore
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities
Reinstalling Microsoft® Windows® XP
Diagnostic Lights
To help you troubleshoot a problem, your computer has four lights labeled "1," "2," "3," and "4" on the front. The lights can be "off" or green. When the
computer starts normally, the lights flash. After the computer starts, all four lights display solid green. If the computer malfunctions, the pattern of the lights
identify the problem.
Diagnostic Light Codes During POST
CAUTION:
Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product Information Guide.
Light Pattern
Problem Description
Suggested Resolution
The computer is in a normal off condition
or a possible pre-BIOS failure has
occurred.
The diagnostic lights are not lit after the
system successfully boots to the
operating system.
Plug the computer into a working electrical outlet and press the power button.
A possible BIOS failure has occurred; the
computer is in the recovery mode.
Run the BIOS Recovery utility, wait for recovery completion, and then restart the computer.
A possible processor failure has occurred. Reinstall the processor and restart the computer.
Memory modules are detected, but a
memory failure has occurred.
1.
Reseat the memory modules to ensure that your computer is successfully communicating
with the memory.
2.
Restart the computer.
3.
If the problem still exists, remove all the memory modules and install one memory
module in memory module connector 4.
4.
Restart the computer.
The following message appears: Alert! Operating in Debug Mode. Please Populate
Memory in Pairs for Normal Operation
.
5.
Press <F1> to boot to the operating system.
6.
7.
If the memory module passes, shut down the computer (see
Turn Off Your Computer
),
remove the memory module, and then repeat the process with the remaining memory
modules until a memory error occurs during start-up or diagnostic testing.
If the first memory module tested is defective, repeat the process with the remaining
modules to ensure that the remaining modules are not defective.
8.
When the defective memory module is identified, contact Dell (see
Contacting Dell
) for a
replacement.
NOTE:
If necessary, the computer can operate in debug mode until new memory modules are
installed.
A possible expansion card failure has
occurred.
1.
Determine if a conflict exists by removing a card (not the graphics 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