Dell Inspiron 3500 Service Manual

							Beep Codes and Error Messages 3-1
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This chapter describes beep codes and system error messages that can occur 
during system start-up or, in the case of some failures, during normal com-
puter operation. The tables in this chapter list faults that can cause a beep 
code or system error message to occur and the probable causes of the fault in 
each case.
If a faulty computer does not emit beep codes or display system error mes-
sages to indicate a failure, you should load the diagnostics and run the 
appropriate tests to help isolate the source of the problem. See “Running the 
Dell Diagnostics” found later in this chapter.
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If the display cannot display error messages during POST, the computer may 
emit a series of beeps that identifies the problem or that can help you identify 
a faulty component or assembly. For example, one beep, a burst of three short 
beeps, and two more single beeps (beep code 1-3-1-1) means that the system 
has encountered a DRAM refresh error condition, probably caused by a faulty 
system board.
Table 3-1 lists the beep codes that may be generated during POST. Most beep 
codes indicate a fatal error that requires replacement of the system board or 
other corrective actions before the computer can operate. 
						

							3-2Dell Inspiron 3500 Portable Computer Service Manual
    
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Table 3-2 lists (in alphabetical order) system error messages that may appear 
on the display during the boot routine or during normal computer operation.
 
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1-2-2-3 ROM BIOS checksum failure Faulty system board
1-3-1-1 DRAM refresh failure Faulty system board
1-3-1-3 Keyboard controller test 
failureFaulty keyboard or faulty sys-
tem board
1-3-4-1 RAM failure on address line 
nnnn
Faulty memory module or 
faulty system board
1-3-4-3 RAM failure on data bits 
nnnn of high byte on memory 
busFaulty memory module or 
faulty system board
1-4-1-1 RAM failure on data bits 
nnnn of low byte on memory 
busFaulty memory module or 
faulty system board
2-1-2-3 Check ROM copyright notice 
failureFaulty system board
2-2-3-1 Interrupt mask register failure Faulty system board
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CMOS battery is 
dead-Replace and 
run SetupThe CMOS battery 
does not have enough 
charge to power the 
computer.CMOS battery com-
pletely discharged. 
Faulty CMOS battery or 
system board.
Diskette drive A 
errorConnector loose or dis-
kette faulty. Faulty or incorrectly 
inserted diskette in 
drive. Faulty diskette 
drive. Faulty system 
board. Faulty or loose 
external cable.
Extended RAM 
failed at off-
set: 
nnnn
Extended memory not 
configured properly or 
failed at memory 
address 
nnnn.Faulty or improperly 
seated memory mod-
ule. Faulty system 
board.
Failing bits: 
nnnn Memory failed at RAM 
address nnnn.Faulty or improperly 
seated memory mod-
ule. Faulty system 
board. 
						

							Beep Codes and Error Messages 3-3
Fixed disk 0 
failureThe hard-disk drive 
failed to initialize.Corrupted hard-disk 
drive boot sector or 
configuration file. 
Faulty hard-disk drive. 
Faulty system board.
Fixed disk con-
troller failureThe hard-disk drive con-
troller may be faulty.Faulty hard-disk drive. 
Faulty system board.
Incorrect drive A 
type—run SetupThe diskette drive is not 
identified properly in 
the Setup program. Incorrect drive 
configuration. Faulty 
connections. Faulty dis-
kette drive. Faulty 
system board.
Keyboard control-
ler errorThe keyboard control-
ler is faulty.Faulty keyboard 
connection. Faulty key-
board. Faulty system 
board. 
Keyboard errorIf an external keyboard 
is being used, a cable 
or connector may be 
loose or the keyboard 
may be faulty. If the 
integrated keyboard is 
being used, it may be 
faulty. A key on the 
integrated keyboard 
may have been pressed 
while the computer 
was booting.Integrated keyboard: 
faulty keyboard or key 
pressed while com-
puter booting. 
External keyboard: 
cable or connector 
loose. Faulty keyboard 
or key pressed while 
computer booting.
Operating system 
not foundThe operating system 
may be corrupted. Or, 
the operating system 
cannot be found on the 
hard-disk drive or on 
the diskette in the dis-
kette drive.Incorrect drive 
configuration. Operat-
ing system not installed 
on hard-disk drive or 
diskette drive not 
bootable. Faulty con-
nections. Faulty drive. 
Faulty system board.
Parity check 1 
nnnn
A parity error was 
found in the system 
bus at address 
nnnn. Faulty system board.
Parity check 2 
nnnn
A parity error was 
found in the I/O bus at 
address 
nnnn.Faulty system board.
Real time clock 
errorThe CMOS battery that 
supports data stored in 
NVRAM may be dead.Faulty battery. Faulty 
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							3-4Dell Inspiron 3500 Portable Computer Service Manual
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The Dell Diagnostics contains tests that aid in troubleshooting the computer. 
The diagnostics diskette contains the following test groups:
‡RAM — Tests the main memory
‡System Set — Tests the primary functions of the system board
‡Video — Tests the video subsystem
‡Keyboard — Tests the keyboard subsystem
‡Mouse — Tests the mouse/touch pad subsystem
‡Diskette Drives — Tests the diskette drive subsystem
‡IDE (ATA/ATAPI) Devices — Tests an IDE hard-disk drive or a CD-ROM or 
DVD-ROM drive subsystem  Shadow RAM failed 
at offset: 
nnnn
Shadow RAM failed at 
address 
nnnn.Faulty or improperly 
seated memory mod-
ule. Faulty system 
board.
System battery is 
dead—Replace and 
run SetupCMOS  battery  dead. Faulty CMOS battery or 
system board.
System cache 
error—cache 
disabledThe primary cache 
internal to the micro-
processor has failed.Faulty microprocessor. 
System CMOS 
checksum bad—run 
SetupThe BIOS has been 
updated. CMOS has 
been corrupted or mod-
ified, possibly by an 
application program 
that changes data 
stored in CMOS.BIOS has been 
updated. Verify correct 
CMOS settings, save, 
and exit.
System RAM failed 
at offset: 
nnnn
System RAM failed at 
address 
nnnn in the 
64-KB block at which 
the error was detected.Faulty or improperly 
seated memory mod-
ule. Faulty system 
board.
System timer 
errorA chip on the system 
board may be malfunc-
tioning.Faulty system board. 7DEOH  6\VWHP (UURU 0HVVDJHV
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							Beep Codes and Error Messages 3-5
‡Serial/Infrared Ports — Tests the serial communications port
‡Parallel Ports — Tests the parallel communications port
‡Audio — Tests the operation of the audio chip set
Before starting the Dell Diagnostics, you must configure the computer cor-
rectly. For more information, see “Before You Start Testing” in Chapter 4, 
“Running the Dell Diagnostics,” of the
 Reference and Troubleshooting Guide.
Follow these steps to start the diagnostics: 
1. Install a CD-ROM drive in the options bay.
2. Turn off the computer.
3. Insert a copy of the 
Dell Diagnostics Diskette into the diskette drive, and 
boot the computer.
Starting the diagnostics causes the Dell logo screen to appear, followed by a 
message indicating that the diagnostics is loading. Before the diagnostics 
loads, a program tests the portion of main memory (RAM) required for loading 
the diagnostics. If a main memory error is detected, a message appears on the 
screen telling you a memory module has failed.
If no errors are found in main memory, the diagnostics loads, and the 
Diagnostics Menu appears. This menu lets you choose the following options 
or exit to the MS-DOS
® prompt: 
‡Run All Tests — Runs all tests for a thorough test of the computer
‡Run Quick Tests — Runs preselected tests to quickly locate a computer 
failure or to indicate where further testing is needed to isolate a failure
‡Run Specific Tests — Tests a particular area or subsystem of the 
computer 
						

							3-6Dell Inspiron 3500 Portable Computer Service Manual 
						

							Removing and Replacing Parts 4-1
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This chapter provides procedures for removing and replacing parts and assem-
blies. Unless other wise noted, each of the procedures in this chapter makes 
the following assumptions:
‡The computer and any attached peripherals are turned off and the peripher-
als are disconnected from the computer’s I/O panel.
‡A part can be replaced or installed by performing the removal procedure in 
reverse order.
When performing the procedures in this chapter that require the computer to 
be open, use a book or something similar to support the display assembly. The 
angle of the display assembly with respect to the base assembly should not 
exceed 140 degrees.
Locations or directions relative to the computer are shown in Figure 4-1 unless 
other wise specified.
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Most of the procedures require the use of one or more of the following tools:
‡Small flat-blade screwdriver
‡# 1 Phillips-head screwdriver
‡Antistatic grounding strap
‡Dental pick or similar pointed instrument
right side  
left side 
back of computer
 
front of computer 
						

							4-2Dell Inspiron 3500 Portable Computer Service Manual
‡Small scribe or nylon flat blade
‡Nut driver (5.5 mm)
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Before performing any of the procedures in this chapter, read the following 
warning.
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							Removing and Replacing Parts 4-3
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While removing and replacing parts, use a tackle or pill box as a storage device 
to keep track of the screws. The location template in Table 4-1 can be used to 
identify the screws during disassembly.
Be careful not to scratch the computer case by allowing the screws to get 
between the work surface and the case. Dell suggests a soft, padded work 
surface.
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Hard-disk drive: 
3 x 4 (1) (removing)
3 x 4 (1) (disassembling)RAM door:
3 x 4 (2)Display assembly: 
2.5 x 19 (4)
2.5 x 5 (1)
2 x 2.5 (2)
Bezel:
2.5 x 5 (6)LCD interior assembly: 
2.5 x 5 (2)LCD panel rails (13.3-inch):
2.5 x 5 (4)
LCD panel rails (14.1-inch):
2 x 4 (4)Diskette drive:
2.5 x 4 (2)CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive:
2 x 3 (3)
2.5 x 5 (2)
Iomega Zip drive:
2.5 x 5 (2) Keyboard:
2.5 x 16 (3)Infrared board:
2.5 x 5 (1)
Heat-sink fin cover: 
2 x 3.5 (1)Processor module 
assembly:
2 x 14 (2)Fan cover:
2.5 x 5 (1)
Modem card:
2.5 x 14 (1)Video board:
2.5 x 4 (2)
2.5 x 14 (1)Palmrest assembly:
2.5 x 19 (7)
Touch pad assembly:
2.5 x 5 (3)System board rails:
2.5 x 5 (2)
2.5 x 16 (1)DC/DC board:
2.5 x 14 (1)
PC Card cage:
2 x 14 (4)System board:
2.5 x 5 (1)
2.5 x 14 (1)  
						

							4-4Dell Inspiron 3500 Portable Computer Service Manual
NOTE: Each removal and replacement procedure in this chapter lists the type, 
size, and torque value of screws removed during the procedure. Screw types 
include flat head (FLH), flat pan-head (FPH), pan head (PNH), and jack screws.
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To disconnect the computer from the AC adapter and port replicator and to 
remove the main battery, PC Cards, hard-disk drive, RAM door, memory mod-
ules, and device in the options bay, follow these steps.
NOTE: The following procedures can be performed by customers as well as 
Dell-certified repair technicians.
1. Determine the power state of the computer.
If the computer is on, go to step 2.
If you are unsure whether the computer is on, shut down and restart the 
computer, and then go to step 2.
2. Turn off any attached peripherals, and then shut down the computer.
3. Disconnect the computer and any attached peripherals from electrical out-
lets to reduce the potential for personal injury or shock.
If the computer has an AC adapter, disconnect the AC power cable from 
the electrical outlet and then from the AC adapter. Disconnect the AC 
adapter cable from the AC adapter connector (see Figure 4-3) on the com-
puter or on the port replicator.
 
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4. If the computer is connected to a port replicator, pull both release handles 
on the sides of the replicator to undock the computer (see Figure 4-4).
AC  p owe r  c a b leAC adapterAC adapter cable AC adapter connector
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