support.dell.com Beep Codes and System Messages C-1
APPENDIX C
Beep Codes and System Messages
Your application programs, the operating system, and the computer itself can provide
you with error and status information in the form of beep codes that sound through
the computer’s speaker or messages that appear on the monitor screen. This appen-
dix documents the beep codes and system messages generated by the system basic
input/output system (BIOS). For other messages, see the documentation for your
application program or operating system.
POST Beep Codes
If the monitor cannot display errors or problems, during power-on self-test (POST) the
computer may emit a series of beeps, or beep code, that identifies the problem. The
beep codes are listed and explained in Table C-1.
Table C-1. POST Beep Codes
Beep Code Possible Cause Corrective Action
2-1-1 The Update BIOS with
Boot Block option is set to
Enabled in the system
setup program.
Enter the system setup
program, set the Update BIOS
with Boot Block option to
Disabled, and then restart the
system. See Appendix B, “Sys-
tem Setup Program.”
2-2 SDRAM DIMMs are not
installed, or EDO DIMMs
are installed.
Install 100-MHz SDRAM DIMMs
from Dell. See “Adding Memory”
in Chapter 2.
2-2-1-1-1 Incompatible 100-MHz
SDRAM DIMM is installed.
Replace with 100-MHz SDRAM
DIMM from Dell. See “Adding
Memory” in Chapter 2.
2-2-2-1 EDO DIMM is installed with
an SDRAM DIMM.
Replace EDO DIMM with
100-MHz SDRAM DIMMs from
Dell. See “Adding Memory” in
Chapter 2.
NOTE: The Glossary in the system Help defines abbreviations and acronyms.