Error messages
Description
SECTOR NOT FOUND
The operating system cannot locate a sector on the hard drive. You
may have a defective sector or corrupted File Allocation Table (FAT)
on the hard drive. Run the Windows error-checking utility to check
the file structure on the hard drive. See
Windows Help and
Support
for instructions (click
Start
>
Help and Support
). If a large
number of sectors are defective, back up the data (if possible), and
then format the hard drive.
SEEK ERROR
The operating system cannot find a specific track on the hard drive.
SHUTDOWN FAILURE
A chip on the system board may be malfunctioning. Run the
System Set
tests in
Dell Diagnostics
. If the message reappears,
Contact Dell
.
TIME-OF-DAY CLOCK LOST POWER
System configuration settings are corrupted. Connect your
computer to an electrical outlet to charge the battery. If the
problem persists, try to restore the data by entering the System
Setup program, then immediately exit the program. If the message
reappears,
Contact Dell
.
TIME-OF-DAY CLOCK STOPPED
The reserve battery that supports the system configuration settings
may require recharging. Connect your computer to an electrical
outlet to charge the battery. If the problem persists,
Contact Dell
.
TIME-OF-DAY NOT SET-PLEASE RUN THE SYSTEM SETUP
PROGRAM
The time or date stored in the system setup program does not
match the system clock. Correct the settings for the
Date and
Time
options.
TIMER CHIP COUNTER 2 FAILED
A chip on the system board may be malfunctioning. Run the
System Set
tests in
Dell Diagnostics
.
UNEXPECTED INTERRUPT IN PROTECTED MODE
The keyboard controller may be malfunctioning, or a memory
module may be loose. Run the
System Memory
tests and the
Keyboard Controller
test in
Dell Diagnostics
or
Contact Dell
.
X:\ IS NOT ACCESSIBLE. THE DEVICE IS NOT READY
Insert a disk into the drive and try again.
System error messages
Table 5. System error messages
System message
Description
Alert! Previous attempts at booting this system
have failed at checkpoint [nnnn]. For help in
resolving this problem, please note this
checkpoint and contact Dell Technical Support
The computer failed to complete the boot routine three consecutive
times for the same error.
CMOS checksum error
RTC is reset,
BIOS Setup
default has been loaded.
CPU fan failure
CPU fan has failed.
System fan failure
System fan has failed.
Hard-disk drive failure
Possible hard disk drive failure during POST.
Keyboard failure
Keyboard failure or loose cable. If reseating the cable does not solve
the problem, replace the keyboard.
No boot device available
No bootable partition on hard disk drive, the hard disk drive cable is
loose, or no bootable device exists.
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Troubleshooting
