Dell Inspiron 3700 Troubleshooting Guide

support.dell.comError Messages and Flash Codes C-1

 


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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 
computers display or on an external monitor (if one is attached), or a flash code may 
be emitted. This appendix documents the diagnostic codes, flash codes, and system 
messages generated by the system basic input/output system (BIOS). For other...

C-2 Dell Inspiron 3700 System Reference and Troubleshooting Guide
Cache disabled 
due to failureThe primar y cache internal to 
the microprocessor has 
failed.Call Dell for technical assistance. For instructions, 
see Chapter 5, “Getting Help.”
CD-ROM drive 
controller 
failure 1The CD-ROM drive does not 
respond to commands from 
the computer.Turn off the computer, remove the drive, and boot 
the computer from a bootable diskette. Then turn 
off the computer again, reinstall the drive, and 
reboot the...

support.dell.comError Messages and Flash Codes C-3
Error reading 
PCMCIA cardThe computer cannot      
identify the PC Card.Reseat the card or tr y another PC Card that you 
know works. 
Extended    
memory size has 
changedThe amount of memory 
recorded in NVRAM does 
not match the memor y 
installed in the computer.Reboot the computer. If the error appears on the 
display again, call Dell for technical assistance. For 
instructions, see Chapter 5, “Getting Help.”
Gate A20 
failureAn installed memor y...

C-4 Dell Inspiron 3700 System Reference and Troubleshooting Guide
Hard-disk drive 
read failureThe hard-disk drive may be 
fault y.Turn off the computer, remove the drive, and boot 
the computer from a bootable diskette. Then turn 
off the computer again, reinstall the drive, and 
reboot the computer. (For instructions, see   
“Installing an Internal Hard-Disk Drive” in         
Chapter 2.) If the problem persists, tr y another 
drive. Then run the IDE Devices tests in the Dell 
Diagnostics. For...

support.dell.comError Messages and Flash Codes C-5
Memory       
allocation 
errorThe software you are 
attempting to run is          
conflicting with the operating 
system, another application 
program, or a utility.Turn off the computer, wait 30 seconds, and then 
restart it. Try to run the program again. If the     
problem persists, contact the software company.
Memory data 
line failure  
at address, 
read value     
expecting valueAn installed memor y      
module may be faulty or 
improperly...

C-6 Dell Inspiron 3700 System Reference and Troubleshooting Guide
Non-system disk 
or disk errorThe diskette in drive A or 
your hard-disk drive does not 
have a bootable operating 
system installed on it.If you are tr ying to boot from the diskette, replace it 
with one that has a bootable operating system. 
Not a boot 
disketteThere is no operating system 
on the diskette.Boot the computer with a diskette that contains an 
operating system.
Optional ROM 
bad checksumThe optional ROM apparently...

support.dell.comError Messages and Flash Codes C-7

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When errors that occur during the boot routine cannot be reported on the integrated 
display or on an external monitor (if attached), the keyboard status indicators           
(see Figure C-1) may flash together in a pattern of lights (a 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...

C-8 Dell Inspiron 3700 System Reference and Troubleshooting Guide
cause. (See “Running the Dell Diagnostics” in Chapter 3 for instructions.) If you are 
unable to resolve the problem, call Dell for technical assistance. (See Chapter 5,  
“Getting Help,” for instructions.) 
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1-1-3 NVRAM write/read failure. Run the System Board Devices tests in the Dell    
Diagnostics. For instructions, see “Running the Dell 
Diagnostics” in Chapter...

support.dell.comError Messages and Flash Codes C-9
3-1-2 Master DMA register failure. Run the 
System Board Devices tests in the Dell    
Diagnostics. For instructions, see “Running the Dell 
Diagnostics” in Chapter 3. If the program does not load, 
call Dell for technical assistance. For instructions, see 
Chapter 5, “Getting Help”.
3-1-3 Master interrupt mask register  
failure.Call Dell for technical assistance. For instructions, see 
Chapter 5, “Getting Help”.
3-1-4 Slave interrupt mask register...

C-10 Dell Inspiron 3700 System Reference and Troubleshooting Guide
4-4-1 Serial port failure. Run the Serial Ports tests in the Dell Diagnostics. For 
instructions, see “Running the Dell Diagnostics” in 
Chapter 3. 
5-1-2 No usable memory. Run the System Memory tests in the Dell Diagnostics. 
For instructions, see “Running the Dell Diagnostics” in 
Chapter 3. 
NOTE: For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this table, see the Glossary in the system Help.
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