Dell Vostro 400, Service Manual, Page: 43 / 118

Beep Codes and Error Messages 3-1
Chapter 3
Beep Codes and Error Messages
T
his chapter describes beep codes and system error messages that can occur
during system start-up or, in the case of some failures, during normal system
operation. The tables in this chapter list faults that can cause a beep code or sys-
tem error message to occur and the probable causes of the fault in each case.
If a faulty system does not emit beep codes or display system error messages to
indicate a failure, you should run the appropriate tests in the Dell Diagnostics to
help isolate the source of the problem. See “Running the Dell Diagnostics” in
Chapter 2.
P
OST Beep Codes
If the monitor cannot display error messages during the POST, the system may
emit a series of beeps that identifies the problem or that can help you identify a
faulty component or assembly. Table 3-1 lists the beep codes that may be gener-
ated during the POST. Most beep codes indicate a fatal error that prevents the
system from completing the boot routine until the indicated condition is cor-
rected. If the table does not lead to the source of the problem, run the
appropriate tests in the Dell Diagnostics to assist in troubleshooting the
problem.