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POST Beep Codes
If the monitor cannot display errors or problems, during POST the computer might emit a series of beeps, or beep code, that identifies the problem. The POST
beep codes are listed below.
System Messages
assistance.
IDE bus failure has occurred.
Reseat the drive cables. If the problem persists, see "Contacting Dell" in the Solutions Guide for
instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
USB port or a device
connected to it has failed
initialization.
Disconnect the device from the USB connector. If the problem persists, see "Contacting Dell" in the
Solutions Guide for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
Other failure.
See "Contacting Dell" in the Solutions Guide for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
Computer has started and
turned over control to the
operating system.
No action is necessary.
Beep
Codes
Possible Cause
Corrective Action
1
A memory refresh failure occurred.
Reseat the memory modules.
2
Memory parity cannot be reset.
Reseat the memory modules.
3
A failure occurred in the first 64 KB of memory.
Reseat the memory modules.
4
The system timer is not operational.
See "Contacting Dell" in the Solutions Guide for instructions on obtaining technical
assistance.
6
8042 Gate A20 cannot be toggled.
See "Contacting Dell" in the Solutions Guide for instructions on obtaining technical
assistance.
7
An exception interrupt error occurred.
See "Contacting Dell" in the Solutions Guide for instructions on obtaining technical
assistance.
8
A read/write error occurred in the display
memory.
See "Contacting Dell" in the Solutions Guide for instructions on obtaining technical
assistance.
10
A CMOS shutdown register test error occurred.
See "Contacting Dell" in the Solutions Guide for instructions on obtaining technical
assistance.
11
An invalid BIOS is installed.
See "Contacting Dell" in the Solutions Guide for instructions on obtaining technical
assistance.
Message
Possible Cause
Corrective Action
8042 Gate-A20 error
The keyboard controller failed its test.
If you receive this message after making changes in the system setup
program, enter the program and restore the original value(s).
Address Line Short!
Error in the address decoding circuitry in the
memory.
Reseat the memory modules.
C: Drive Error
C: Drive Failure
The hard drive is not working or is not configured
correctly.
Ensure that the drive is installed correctly in the computer and defined
correctly in the system setup program.
Cache Memory Bad, Do
Not Enable Cache
Cache memory is not operating.
See "Contacting Dell" in the Solutions Guide for instructions on obtaining
technical assistance.