Dell PowerEdge 1300 User Manual

Dell® PowerEdge® 1300 Systems Installation and Troubleshooting Guide

Safety Instructions Preface Introduction Checking the Basics Messages and Codes Finding Software Solutions Running the Dell Diagnostics Checking the Equipment Checking Inside the Computer Installing System Board Options Installing Drives Getting Help Diagnostic Video Tests Jumpers, Switches, and Connectors Abbreviations and Acronyms

Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Computer Corporation is strictly forbidden.

Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, Dell Dimension, and PowerEdge are registered trademarks, Dell OpenManage is a trademark, and DellWare is a registered service mark of Dell Computer Corporation; Microsoft, MS-DOS, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation; Intel and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation; OS/2 is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation; VESA is a registered trademark of Video Electronics Standards Association.

Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell Computer Corporation disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.

Model MMP

Initial release: 30 Nov 1998

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Safety Instructions: Dell® PowerEdge® 1300 Systems Installation and Troubleshooting Guide

Overview | When Using Your Computer System | Ergonomic Computing Habits | When Working Inside Your Computer | Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge

Overview

Use the following safety guidelines to help protect your computer system from potential damage and to ensure your own personal safety.

Observe the following warnings while servicing this system:

WARNING: The power supplies in this computer system produce high voltages and energy hazards, which can cause bodily harm. Only trained service technicians are authorized to remove the computer covers and access any of the components inside the computer.

WARNING: This system may have more than one power supply cable. To reduce the risk of electrical shock, a trained service technician must disconnect all power supply cables before servicing the system.

When Using Your Computer System

As you use your computer system, observe the following safety guidelines:

Be sure your computer, monitor, and attached peripherals are electrically rated to operate with the AC power available in your location. To help avoid possible damage to the system board, wait 5 seconds after turning off the system before removing a component from the system board or disconnecting a peripheral device from the computer. To help prevent electric shock, plug the computer and peripheral power cables into properly grounded electrical outlets. These cables are equipped with three-prong plugs to help ensure proper grounding. Do not use adapter plugs or remove the grounding prong from a cable. If you must use an extension cable, use a three-wire cable with properly grounded plugs. To help protect your computer system from sudden, transient increases and decreases in electrical power, use a surge suppressor, line conditioner, or un-interruptible power supply (UPS). Be sure nothing rests on your computer system's cables and that the cables are not located where they can be stepped on or tripped over. Do not spill food or liquids on your computer. If the computer gets wet, consult Checking Inside the Computer. Do not push any objects into the openings of your computer. Doing so can cause fire or electric shock by shorting out interior components. Keep your computer away from radiators and heat sources. Also, do not block cooling vents.

Ergonomic Computing Habits

WARNING: Improper or prolonged keyboard use may result in injury.

For comfort and efficiency, observe the following ergonomic guidelines when setting up and using your computer system:

Position your system so that the monitor and keyboard are directly in front of you as you work. Special shelves are available (from Dell and other sources) to help you correctly position your keyboard. Set the monitor at a comfortable viewing distance (usually 510 to 610 millimeters [20 to 24 inches] from your eyes). Make sure the monitor screen is at eye level or slightly lower when you are sitting in front of the monitor. Adjust the tilt of the monitor, its contrast and brightness settings, and the lighting around you (such as overhead lights, desk lamps, and the curtains or blinds on nearby windows) to minimize reflections and glare on the monitor screen. Use a chair that provides good lower back support. Keep your forearms horizontal with your wrists in a neutral, comfortable position while using the keyboard or mouse.

Always leave space to rest your hands while using the keyboard or mouse.

Let your upper arms hang naturally at your sides.

pins. Also, before you connect a cable, make sure both connectors are correctly oriented and aligned.

Sit erect, with your feet resting on the floor and your thighs level. When sitting, make sure the weight of your legs is on your feet and not on the front of your chair seat. Adjust your chair's height or use a footrest, if necessary, to maintain proper posture. Vary your work activities. Try to organize your work so that you do not have to type for extended periods of time. When you stop typing, try to do things that use both hands.

When Working Inside Your Computer

Before you remove the computer covers, perform the following steps in the sequence indicated.

CAUTION: Do not attempt to service the computer system yourself, except as explained in this guide and elsewhere in Dell documentation. Always follow installation and service instructions closely.

CAUTION: To help avoid possible damage to the system board, wait 5 seconds after turning off the system before removing a component from the system board or disconnecting a peripheral device from the computer.

1. Touch an unpainted metal surface on the chassis, such as the metal around the card-slot openings at the back of the computer, before touching anything inside your computer. While you work, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis to dissipate any static electricity that might harm internal components.

2. Turn off your computer and any peripherals.

3. Disconnect your computer and peripherals from their power sources. Also, disconnect any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer. Doing so reduces the potential for personal injury or shock.

In addition, take note of these safety guidelines when appropriate:

When you disconnect a cable, pull on its connector or on its strain-relief loop, not on the cable itself. Some cables have a connector with locking tabs; if you are disconnecting this type of cable, press in on the locking tabs before disconnecting the cable. As you pull connectors apart, keep them evenly aligned to avoid bending any connector

Handle components and cards with care. Don’t touch the components or contacts on a card. Hold a card by its

edges or by its metal mounting bracket. Hold a component such as a microprocessor chip by its edges, not by its pins

WARNING

There is a danger of a new battery exploding if it is incorrectly installed. Replace the battery only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard used batteries according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge

Static electricity can harm delicate components inside your computer. To prevent static damage, discharge static electricity from your body before you touch any of your computer's electronic components, such as the microprocessor. You can do so by touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis.

As you continue to work inside the computer, periodically touch an unpainted metal surface to remove any static charge your body may have accumulated.

You can also take the following steps to prevent damage from electrostatic discharge (ESD):

When unpacking a static-sensitive component from its shipping carton, do not remove the component from the antistatic packing material until you are ready to install the component in your computer. Just before unwrapping the antistatic packaging, be sure to discharge static electricity from your body. When transporting a sensitive component, first place it in an antistatic container or packaging. Handle all sensitive components in a static-safe area. If possible, use antistatic floor pads and workbench pads.

The following caution may appear throughout this document to remind you of these precautions:

CAUTION: See Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge.

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Preface: Dell® PowerEdge® 1300 Systems Installation and Troubleshooting Guide

About This Guide | Other Documentation You May Need | Notational Conventions | Typographical Conventions |

About This Guide

This guide is intended for anyone who wants to upgrade or troubleshoot a Dell PowerEdge 1300 computer system. Before calling Dell for technical assistance, follow the recommended procedure(s) in this guide to solve most hardware and software problems yourself. The files are summarized as follows:

Introduction provides a brief overview of the system's service features.

Everyone should read Checking the Basics for some initial checks and procedures that you can use to solve basic computer problems. It also directs you to the appropriate file in this guide for more detailed troubleshooting information and procedures to solve more complex problems. Whenever you receive an error message or code, you should read Messages and Codes. This file discusses system messages, system beep codes, warning messages, diagnostics messages, alert log messages, and small computer system interface (SCSI) hard-disk drive indicator codes. If you suspect that the problems are software-related, or you are still having problems after testing the computer's hardware, read Finding Software Solutions. For hardware-related problems, read Running the Dell Diagnostics. Checking the Equipment and Checking Inside

the Computer provide troubleshooting procedures for equipment connected to the input/output (I/O) panel of the

computer and components inside the computer, respectively. Checking Inside the Computer also provides information on removing the computer covers.

Installing System Board Options and Installing Drives and are intended for anyone who wants to install or remove

internal components, such as dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs), expansion cards, and SCSI devices.

Getting Help describes the help tools Dell provides to assist you should you have a problem with the computer. It

also explains how and when to call Dell for technical assistance. Getting Help also includes a Diagnostics Checklist that you can copy and fill out as you perform the troubleshooting procedures. If you need to call Dell for technical assistance, use the completed checklist to tell the Dell technical support representative what procedures you performed to better help the representative give you assistance. If you must return a piece of hardware to Dell, include a completed checklist.

Diagnostic Video Tests discusses the tests for the Video Test Group in the Dell Diagnostics to help you test the

monitor.

Jumpers, Switches, and Connectors is intended for anyone who is troubleshooting the system or is adding internal

options and needs to change jumper or switch settings. Reference Abbreviations and Acronyms for a table of the abbreviations and acronyms used throughout this guide and in other Dell documentation.

Other Documentation You May Need

Besides this Installation and Troubleshooting Guide, the following documentation is included with your system:

The Dell PowerEdge 1300 Systems User's Guide, which describes system features and technical specifications, video and SCSI device drivers, the System Setup program, software support utilities, and the Resource

Configuration Utility.

The HP OpenView Network Node Manager Special Edition x.x With Dell OpenManage™ HIP x.x User's Guide, which describes the features, requirements, installation, and basic operation of the server management software. Refer to the software's online help for information about the alert messages issued by the software.

You may also have one or more of the following documents.

NOTE: Documentation updates are sometimes included with the system to describe changes to the system or software. Always read these updates before consulting any other documentation because the updates often contain information that supersedes the information in the other documents.

Operating system documentation is included with the system if you ordered the operating system software from Dell. This documentation describes how to install (if necessary), configure, and use the operating system software. Documentation is included with any options you purchase separately from the system. This documentation includes information that you need to configure and install these options in your Dell computer. Technical information files—sometimes called "readme" files—may be installed on the hard-disk drive to provide last-minute updates about technical changes to the system or advanced technical reference material intended for experienced users or technicians.

Notational Conventions

The following subsections describe notational conventions used in this document.

Warnings, Cautions, and Notes

Throughout this guide, there may be blocks of text printed in bold type or in italic type. These blocks are warnings, cautions, and notes, and they are used as follows:

WARNING: A WARNING indicates the potential for bodily harm and tells you how to avoid the problem. CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to

avoid the problem.

NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer system.

Typographical Conventions

The following list defines (where appropriate) specific elements of text and illustrates the typographical conventions used throughout this document as visual cues for those elements:

Interface components are window titles, button and icon names, menu names and selections, and other options that appear on the monitor screen or display. They are presented in bold.

Example: Click OK. Keycaps, the labeling that appears on the keys on a keyboard, are enclosed in angle brackets. Example: <Enter> Key combinations are series of keys to be pressed simultaneously (unless otherwise indicated) to perform a single

function.

Example: <Ctrl> <Alt> <Enter>

Commands presented in lowercase bold are for reference purposes only and are not intended to be typed when referenced.

Example: "Use the format command to . . . ."

In contrast, commands presented in the Courier New font are part of an instruction and intended to be typed.

Example: "Type format a: to format the diskette in drive A." Filenames and directory names are presented in lowercase bold. Examples: autoexec.bat and c:\windows Syntax lines consist of a command and all its possible parameters. Commands are presented in lowercase bold;

variable parameters (those for which you substitute a value) are presented in lowercase italics; constant parameters are presented in lowercase bold. The brackets indicate items that are optional.

Example: del [drive:] [path] filename [/p] Command lines consist of a command and may include one or more of the command's possible parameters.

Command lines are presented in the Courier New font. Example: del c:\myfile.doc Screen text is a message or text that you are instructed to type as part of a command (referred to as a command

line). Screen text is presented in the Courier New font. Example: The following message appears on your screen:

No boot device available

Example: "Type md c:\dos and press < Enter >." Variables are placeholders for which you substitute a value. They are presented in italics. Example: DIMM x (where x represents the DIMM socket designation)

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Introduction: Dell® PowerEdge® 1300 Systems Installation and Troubleshooting Guide

Dell® PowerEdge® 1300 computer systems are high-speed servers that offer significant service and upgrade features. These systems include the following service features to make troubleshooting easy and effective:

Dell Diagnostics, which checks for hardware problems (if the system can boot) Embedded server management hardware, which monitors temperatures and voltages throughout the system and notifies you if the system overheats or if a system cooling fan malfunctions

The Dell PowerEdge 1300 system chassis simplifies removing and replacing computer components. The power supply enclosure rotates up out of the way to allow access to the upper system board, and the drive cage can easily be removed from the system to facilitate drive replacement.

The following upgrade options are offered for the Dell PowerEdge 1300 systems:

An additional microprocessor Additional memory A variety of expansion-card options (including redundant arrays of independent disks [RAID] controller host adapter cards) Optional IDE CD-ROM drive, SCSI tape drive, and additional SCSI hard-disk drives A Dell Remote Assistant Card for system management

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Checking the Basics: Dell® PowerEdge® 1300 Systems Installation and Troubleshooting Guide

Overview

If your Dell PowerEdge 1300 computer system is not working as expected, begin troubleshooting using the procedures in this file. This file guides you through some initial checks and procedures that can solve basic computer problems. It can also direct you to the appropriate section in this guide for detailed troubleshooting information and procedures to solve more complex problems.

NOTE: When you see the question "Is the problem resolved?" in a troubleshooting procedure, perform the operation that caused the problem.

Backing Up Files

If the system is behaving erratically, back up the files immediately. See the documentation that came with the operating system for instructions on how to back up the files.

Basic Checks

The following procedure leads you through the checks necessary to solve some basic computer problems:

1. Was an alert message issued by the Dell OpenManage™ Hardware Instrumentation Package (HIP) server management application?

Yes. Refer to your Dell OpenManage HIP documentation for information on the message. No. Go to step 2.

2. Is the computer wet or damaged?

Yes. Go to Checking Inside the Computer. No. Go to step 3.

3. Perform the steps in Checking Connections and Switches. Is the problem resolved? Yes. The power to the computer system was faulty, or the connections to the computer system were loose. You

have fixed the problem. No. Go to step 4.

4. Follow the procedures described in Look and Listen.

Did the computer system complete the boot routine?

Yes. Go to step 5. No. A serious malfunction may have occurred. Go to Getting Help.

5. Did you receive a system message or beep code?

Yes. Go to Messages and Codes. No. Go to step 6.

6. Verify the settings in the System Setup program. Is the problem resolved?

Yes. The system configuration information was incorrect. You have fixed the problem. No. Go to step 7.

7. Run the Dell Diagnostics as described Running the Dell Diagnostics.

Checking Connections and Switches

Improperly set switches and controls and loose or improperly connected cables are the most likely source of problems for the computer, monitor, or other peripherals (such as a printer, keyboard, mouse, or other external equipment). A quick check of all the switches, controls, and cable connections can easily solve these problems. Figure 1, Back-Panel

Features, shows the back-panel connections on the computer. Figure 2, Front-Panel Features, shows the front-panel

controls and indicators on the computer.

Figure 1. Back-Panel Features

Figure 2. Front-Panel Features

Complete the following procedure to check all the connections and switches:

1. Turn off the system, including any attached peripherals (such as the monitor, keyboard, printer, external drives, scanners, and plotters). Disconnect all the AC power cables from their electrical outlets.

2. If the computer is connected to a power strip, turn the power strip off and then on again. Is the power strip receiving power?

Yes. Go to step 5. No. Go to step 3.

3. Plug the power strip into another electrical outlet. Is the power strip receiving power?

Yes. The original electrical outlet probably does not function. Use a different electrical outlet. No. Go to step 4.

4. Plug a lamp that you know works into the electrical outlet. Does the lamp receive power?

Yes. The power strip is probably not functioning properly. Use another power strip. No. Go to step 5.

5. Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet or power strip. Make sure that all connections fit tightly together.

6. Turn on the system.

Is the problem resolved?

A series of beeps See Messages and Codes.

Yes. The connections were loose. You have fixed the problem. No. Go to step 7.

7. Is the monitor operating properly?

Yes. Go to step 8. No. Go to Troubleshooting the Monitor.

8. Is the keyboard operating properly?

Yes. Go to step 9. No. Go to Troubleshooting the Keyboard.

9. Are the mouse and printer operating properly?

Yes. Continue with the next section, "Look and Listen." No. Go to Troubleshooting I/O Ports.

Look and Listen

Looking at and listening to the system is important in determining the source of a problem. Look and listen for the indications described in Table 1, Boot Routine Indications.

Table 1. Boot Routine Indications

Look/Listen for: Action

An error message See Messages and Codes Alert messages

from the Dell OpenManage HIP software

The monitor's power indicator

The keyboard indicators

The diskette-drive access indicator

The server management software has detected a problem inside the computer. See the information on alert log message in your Dell OpenManage HIP documentation.

Most monitors have a power indicator (usually on the front bezel). If the monitor's power indicator does not come on, see Troubleshooting the Monitor.

Most keyboards have one or more indicators (usually in the upper-right corner). Press the <Num Lock> key, the <Caps Lock> key, or the <Scroll Lock> key to toggle their respective keyboard indicators on and off. If the indicators do not light up, see Troubleshooting the Keyboard.

The diskette-drive access indicator should quickly flash on and off when you access data on the diskette drive. If the diskette-drive access indicator does not light up, see Troubleshooting the

Diskette Drive Subsystem.

The hard-disk drive activity indicators

The hard-disk drive activity indicators should quickly flash on and off when you access data on the hard-disk drives. On a system running the Microsoft ® Windows NT ® operating system, you

can test the drive by opening Windows Explorer and clicking the icon for drive C. If the hard-disk drive access indicator does not come on, see Troubleshooting SCSI Hard-Disk Drives.

An unfamiliar constant scraping or grinding sound when you access a drive

Make sure the sound is not caused by the application program you are running. The sound could be caused by a hardware malfunction. See Getting Help for instructions on obtaining technical assistance from Dell.

The absence of a familiar sound

NOTE: For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this table, see Abbreviations and Acronyms.

If you have not resolved the problem after looking at and listening to the computer, continue with the instructions The

System Setup Program.

When you turn on the system, you should hear the hard-disk drives spin up, and the system try to access the start-up files from the hard-disk drive, the diskette drive, or the CD-ROM drive. See Running the Dell Diagnostics. If the system does not boot, see Getting Help.

The System Setup Program

You can easily correct certain system problems by verifying the correct settings in the System Setup program. When you boot the system, the system checks the system configuration information and compares it with the current hardware configuration. If the system hardware configuration does not match the information recorded by the System Setup program, an error message may appear on the screen.

This problem can happen if you changed the system's hardware configuration and forgot to run the System Setup program. To correct this problem, enter the System Setup program, correct the corresponding System Setup setting, and reboot the system. See "Using the System Setup Program" in your User's Guide for detailed instructions on using the System Setup program.

The Resource Configuration Utility

If you are experiencing problems with the system, you may have a conflict between the information stored by the System Setup program and the Resource Configuration Utility (RCU). Although the RCU can read changes from the System Setup program, changes are not recorded in configuration memory until you run the RCU and save the new information. See "Using the Resource Configuration Utility" in your User's Guide for detailed instructions on using the RCU and saving new information.

If after using the RCU you have not resolved the problem, see Running the Dell Diagnostics.

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drive thermal probe

Messages and Codes: Dell® PowerEdge® 1300 Systems Installation and Troubleshooting Guide

Overview

Application programs, operating systems, and the computer itself are capable of identifying problems and alerting you to them. When a problem occurs, a message may appear on the monitor screen or a beep code may sound.

Several different types of messages can indicate when the system is not functioning properly:

System messages System beep codes Warning messages Diagnostics messages Alert messages

This file describes each type of message and lists the possible causes and actions you can take to resolve any problems indicated by a message. To determine what type of message you have received, read the following sections.

System Messages

System messages alert you to a possible operating system problem or to a conflict between the software and hardware. Table 1, System Messages, lists the system messages that can occur and the probable cause for each message.

NOTE: If you receive a system message that is not listed in the following table, check the documentation for the application program that is running when the message appears and/or the operating system documentation for an explanation of the message and recommended action.

Table 1. System Messages

Message Definition Probable Causes

Address mark not found

BIOS found faulty disk sector or could not find particular disk sector.

Faulty diskette/tape drive subsystem or harddisk drive subsystem (defective system board), faulty interface cable or connector.

Attachment failed to respond

Alert! Cover was previously removed.

Alert! Hard disk

Diskette drive or hard-disk drive controller cannot send data to associated drive.

Faulty diskette/tape drive subsystem or harddisk drive subsystem (defective system board), faulty interface cable or connector.

Cover was previously removed. Cover was previously removed.

Hard-disk drive thermal probe has failed. No hard-disk drive thermal probe installed,

failure detected.

defective thermal probe, or thermal cable

not connected to the control panel.

Alert! One or more of the Memory DIMMs are out of rev.

Alert! Power supply fan failure detected.

Alert! Previous fan failure.

Alert! Previous hard-disk drive thermal failure.

Alert! Previous processor thermal failure.

Alert! Previous voltage failure.

Alert! Primary processor is out of rev.

System detected that one or more of the DIMMs are not the correct revision.

DIMMs do not meet Intel® SPD 1.2 specification or 66-MHz DIMMs are

installed.

Power supply fan has failed. The power supply or system board is

defective.

System fan failed during the previous operating session.

Hard-disk drive thermal probe failed during previous operating session.

No fan installed, defective fan, or fan cable not connected.

No hard-disk drive thermal probe installed, defective thermal probe, or thermal cable not connected to the control panel.

The microprocessor exceeded its recommended operating temperature during the previous operating session.

System voltage exceeded or fell below an

Operating environment is too hot (above 35°C). The system vents may be blocked, causing the system to overheat.

Defective power supply.

acceptable threshold. System detected that the primary processor

Processor is a type not supported by Dell. is not the correct revision. If the system contains more than 512 MB of RAM, this message will be followed by a System Halted message.

Alert! Processor thermal probe failure detected.

Alert! Secondary processor is out of rev.

Alert! Single-bit memory error previously detected in XXXXh.

Alert! System fan was not detected.

Alert! Unbuffered and registered SDRAM DIMMs cannot be mixed.

Alert! Uncorrectable memory error previously detected in XXXXh.

Processor or system board has failed. Faulty processor or defective system board.

System detected that the secondary

Processor is a type not supported by Dell. processor is not the correct revision. If the system contains more than 512 MB of RAM, this message will be followed by a System Halted message.

Single-bit ECC error was detected during the previous operating session.

Faulty or improperly seated DIMMs or

defective system board.

System fan was not detected. No fan installed, defective fan, or fan cable

not connected. Mixing of unbuffered and registered

SDRAM DIMMs is not supported.

Two different types (unbuffered and

registered) of SDRAM DIMMs have been

installed together and may not be

compatible. Multibit ECC error was detected during the

previous operating session.

Faulty or improperly seated DIMMs or

defective system board.

Auxiliary Device failure. Verify that mouse and

System detected a mouse failure. Faulty mouse, or faulty mouse controller or

keyboard is attached to the mouse

keyboard are

securely attached

connector.

Hard disk failure

to connectors. Bad command or file

name

Command entered does not exist, is faulty, or is not in pathname specified.

Faulty command and syntax, or incorrect

filename.

Bad error-correction code(ECC)on disk read

Boot: Couldn't find NTLDR

Controller has failed

Data error

Decreasing available memory

Diskette drive 0 seek failure

Diskette drive 1 seek failure

Diskette drive or hard-disk drive controller detected uncorrectable read error. Indicates a fatal error.

A nonbootable diskette formatted with Windows NT was detected in the diskette drive.

Hard-disk drive or associated controller is defective. Indicates a fatal error.

System received unrecoverable data-read error from diskette or hard-disk drive. Indicates a fatal error.

Read/write failure during POST prevents system from using available memory.

Diskette/tape drive controller could not locate specific sector or track.

Faulty diskette/tape drive subsystem or hard-

disk drive subsystem (defective system

board).

A nonbootable diskette is preventing the

system from booting. Remove the diskette

to boot the system from the hard-disk drive

or from a bootable diskette.

Faulty hard-disk drive subsystem or

defective system board.

Faulty diskette, diskette drive, or hard-disk

drive.

One or more DIMMs are faulty or

improperly seated.

Faulty or improperly inserted diskette,

incorrect settings in System Setup program,

loose diskette/tape drive interface cable, or

loose power cable.

Diskette read failure

Diskette subsystem reset failed

Diskette write protected

Drive not ready

ECC memory error

Gate A20 failure

General failure

Hard disk controller failure

Hard disk drive read failure

Failure occurred while system attempted to read diskette.

System could not successfully issue reset command to diskette controller.

Diskette write-protect feature was activated.

Diskette is missing from or is improperly inserted in diskette drive.

Uncorrectable multibit ECC memory error is detected.

Gate A20 of the keyboard controller malfunctioned. Indicates a fatal error.

Operating system cannot execute command.

Hard-disk drive failed to initialize. Indicates a fatal error.

Faulty diskette, faulty or improperly

connected diskette/tape drive interface

cable, or loose power cable.

Faulty diskette/tape drive controller

(defective system board).

Diskette write-protected.

Missing, defective, unformatted, or

improperly inserted diskette.

Faulty or improperly seated DIMMs or

defective system board.

Faulty keyboard controller (defective system

board).

Corrupted or improperly installed operating

system.

Incorrect configuration settings in System

Setup program, improperly connected hard-

disk drive cable, faulty hard-disk controller

subsystem (defective system board), or

loose power cable.

Invalid configuration information please run SETUP program

System Setup program contains incorrect system configuration settings.

Incorrect configuration settings in System

Setup program or faulty battery.

Keyboard clock line failure

Keyboard failure

Keyboard data line failure

Keyboard stuck key failure

Keyboard controller failure

Memory address line failure at address, read value expecting value

Memory data line failure at address, read value expecting value

Memory double word logic failure at address, read value expecting value

System cannot communicate with keyboard. Indicates a fatal error.

Keyboard/mouse controller failed. Indicates a fatal error.

During memory test, value read at address was incorrect.

Keyboard cable connector loose or

improperly connected, defective keyboard,

or defective keyboard/mouse controller

(defective system board).

Defective keyboard/mouse controller

(defective system board).

Faulty or improperly seated DIMMs or

defective system board.

Memory odd/even logic failure at address, read value expecting value

Memory write/read failure at address, read value expecting value

Memory allocation error

Memory tests terminated by keystroke

Network card is not present in the system.

No boot device available

No boot sector on hard-disk drive

Software in use conflicts with operating

Faulty application program or utility. system, application program, or utility.

Memory test did not complete. POST memory test terminated by user

pressing <Spacebar>. System does not detect NIC. Incorrect NIC drivers installed.

System does not recognize diskette drive or hard-disk drive from which it is trying to boot.

Incorrect configuration settings in System Setup program, or corrupted operating system.

Faulty diskette, diskette/tape drive

subsystem, hard-disk drive, hard-disk drive

subsystem, or no boot disk in drive A.

Incorrect configuration settings in System

Setup program, or no operating system on

hard-disk drive.

No timer tick interrupt

Non-system disk or disk error

Timer on system board malfunctioning. Indicates a fatal error.

Diskette in drive A or hard-disk drive does not have bootable operating system

Defective system board.

Faulty diskette, diskette/tape drive

subsystem, or hard-disk drive subsystem

installed on it. (defective system board).

Not a boot diskette

Plug and Play Configuration Error

No operating system on diskette. No operating system on diskette. System encountered a problem in trying to

System resource conflict. configure one or more expansion cards.

Read fault

Requested sector not found

Reset failed

Sector not found

Seek error

Seek operation failed

Shutdown failure

The MS-DOS® operating system cannot read from diskette or hard-disk drive.

Faulty diskette, diskette/tape drive

subsystem, or hard-disk drive subsystem

(defective system board). System could not find particular sector on

disk, or requested sector defective.

Faulty diskette, diskette/tape drive

subsystem, or hard-disk drive subsystem

(defective system board). Disk reset operation failed. Improperly connected diskette/tape drive,

hard-disk drive interface cable, or power

cable. MS-DOS is unable to locate sector on

diskette or hard-disk drive. MS-DOS is unable to locate specific track

Defective sectors on diskette or hard-disk

drive.

Defective diskette or hard-disk drive. on diskette or hard-disk drive.

System could not find particular address

Faulty diskette or hard-disk drive. mark on disk.

System board is faulty. Indicates a fatal

Defective system board.

error.

System halted

Terminator/processor card not installed! System halted!

Time-of-day clock stopped

Time-of-day not set

Timer chip counter 2 failed

Unexpected interrupt in protected mode

WARNING: Dell's Disk Monitoring System has detected that drive [0/1] on the [0/1] EIDE controller is

System locked up because the microprocessor is not the correct revision.

System microprocessor is not a type

supported by Dell and more than 512 MB of

RAM is installed. System does not have terminator card or

secondary microprocessor. Indicates a

fatal error.

Terminator card or secondary

microprocessor is improperly installed or is

not installed. System battery low. Defective battery or faulty chip (defective

system board). Time or Date settings in System Setup

program are incorrect, or the system

Incorrect Time or Date setting, or defective

system battery. battery does not work.

Timer circuit on system board

Defective system board. malfunctioning. Indicates a fatal error.

Keyboard/mouse controller malfunctioning, or 1 or more DIMMs improperly seated. Indicates a fatal error.

POST queried EIDE drive for status. Drive

Improperly seated DIMMs or faulty

keyboard/mouse controller chip (defective

system board).

Unreliable or defective drive. detected possible error conditions.

operating outside

of normal specifications. It is advisable to immediately back up your data and replace your harddisk drive by calling your support desk or Dell Computer Corporation.

Write fault

Write fault on selected drive

MS-DOS cannot write to diskette or harddisk drive.

Faulty diskette or hard-disk drive.

NOTE: For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this table, see Abbreviations and Acronyms.

System Beep Codes

When an error that cannot be reported on the monitor occurs during a boot routine, the computer may emit a series of beeps that identifies the problem. The beep code is a pattern of sounds; for example, one beep followed by a second beep and then a burst of three beeps (code 1-1-3) means that the computer was unable to read the data in nonvolatile random-access memory (NVRAM).This information is valuable to the Dell technical support representative if you need to call for technical assistance.

When a beep code is emitted, write it down on a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist found in Getting Help, and then look it up in Table 2, System Beep Codes. If you are unable to resolve the problem by looking up the meaning of the beep code, use the Dell Diagnostics to identify a more serious cause (see Running the Dell Diagnostics). If you are still unable to resolve the problem, see Getting Help for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

Table 2. System Beep Codes

Beep Code Error Probable Causes

1-1-3 NVRAM write/read failure Defective system board 1-1-4 BIOS checksum failure Faulty BIOS or defective system board 1-2-1 Programmable interval-timer failure Defective system board 1-2-2 DMA initialization failure Defective system board 1-2-3 DMA page register write/read failure Defective system board 1-3-1 Main-memory refresh verification failure Faulty or improperly seated DIMM or defective

system board

1-3-2 No 100-MHz DIMM installed No 100-MHz DIMM installed or faulty or

improperly seated DIMM

1-3-3 Chip or data line failure in the first 64 KB of

Faulty or improperly seated DIMM

main memory

1-3-4 Odd/even logic failure in the first 64 KB of

Faulty or improperly seated DIMM

main memory

1-4-1 Address line failure in the first 64 KB of

main memory

Faulty or improperly seated DIMM

1-4-2 Parity failure in the first 64 KB of main

memory

2-1-1 through 2-4-4

3-1-1 Slave DMA-register failure Defective system board 3-1-2 Master DMA-register failure Defective system board 3-1-3 Master interrupt-mask register failure Defective system board 3-1-4 Slave interrupt-mask register failure Defective system board 3-2-4 Keyboard-controller test failure Faulty keyboard controller (defective system board)

3-3-4 Screen initialization failure

3-4-1 Screen-retrace test failure

3-4-2 Search for video ROM failure

Bit failure in the first 64 KB of main memory Faulty or improperly seated DIMM

Faulty or improperly seated DIMM

Faulty video subsystem (defective graphics adapter card)

Faulty video subsystem (defective graphics adapter

card) 4-2-1 No timer tick Defective system board 4-2-2 Shutdown failure Defective system board 4-2-3 Gate A20 failure Defective system board 4-2-4 Unexpected interrupt in protected mode Defective system board 4-3-1 Memory failure above address 0FFFFh Faulty or improperly seated DIMMs 4-3-3 Timer-chip counter 2 failure Defective system board 4-3-4 Time-of-day clock stopped Bad battery or defective system board 4-4-1 Serial/parallel port test failure Faulty I/O chip (defective system board)

NOTE: For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this table, see Abbreviations and Acronyms

Warning Messages

A warning message alerts you to a possible problem and asks you to take corrective action before the system continues a task. For example, before you format a diskette, a message may warn you that you may lose all data on the diskette, as a way to protect against inadvertently erasing or writing over the data. These warning messages usually interrupt the procedure and require you to respond by typing y (yes) or n (no).

NOTE: Warning messages are generated by either the application program or the operating system. See Finding

Software Solutions and the documentation that accompanied the operating system and application program for

more information on warning messages.

Diagnostics Messages

When you run a test group or subtest in the Dell Diagnostics, an error message may result. These particular error messages are not covered in this file. Record the message on a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist found in Getting Help and then follow the instructions in that file for obtaining technical assistance.

Alert Log Messages From the Dell OpenManage™ HIP Application

The Dell OpenManage Hardware Instrumentation Package (HIP) server management application program generates alert messages that appear in the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) trap log file. To see the trap log, select any enterprise under the SNMP trap log icon. (More information about the Alert Log window and options is provided in the Dell OpenManage HIP online help and the HP OpenView Network Node Manager Special Edition x.x

With Dell OpenManage™ HIP x.x User's Guide.) Alert log messages consist of information, status, warning, and failure messages for drive, temperature, fan, and power

conditions. They can assist you with identifying a problem and may provide you with information to help you resolve the problem.

Back to Contents Page

Using Software

Finding Software Solutions: Dell® PowerEdge® 1300 Systems Installation and Troubleshooting Guide

Overview | Installing and Configuring Software | Using Software

Overview

Because most computer systems have several application programs installed in addition to the operating system, isolating a software problem can be confusing. Software errors can also appear to be hardware malfunctions at first.

Software problems can result from the following circumstances:

Improper installation or configuration of a program Input errors Device drivers that may conflict with certain application programs Interrupt conflicts between devices

You can confirm that a computer system problem is caused by software by running the System Set Test Group as described in Running the Dell Diagnostics. If all tests in the test group are completed successfully, the error condition is most likely caused by software.

This file provides some general guidelines for analyzing software problems. For detailed troubleshooting information on a particular program, see the documentation that accompanied the software or consult the support service for the software.

Installing and Configuring Software

You should use virus-scanning software to check newly acquired programs and files for viruses before installing the programs on the computer's hard-disk drive. Viruses, which are pieces of code that can replicate themselves, can quickly use all available system memory, damage and/or destroy data stored on the hard-disk drive, and permanently affect the performance of the programs they infect. Several commercial virus-scanning programs are available for purchase, and most bulletin board services (BBSs) archive freely distributed virus-scanning programs that you can download with a modem.

Before installing a program, you should read its documentation to learn how the program works, what hardware it requires, and what its defaults are. A program usually includes installation instructions in its accompanying documentation and a software installation routine on its program diskettes.

The software installation routine assists users in transferring the appropriate program files to the computer's hard-disk drive. Installation instructions may provide details about how to configure the operating system to successfully run the program. You should always read the installation instructions before running a program's installation routine.

When you run the installation routine, you should be prepared to respond to prompts for information about how the computer's operating system is configured, what type of computer you have, and what peripherals are connected to the computer.

The following subsections discuss errors that can occur as a result of software operation or configuration.

Error Messages

Error messages can be produced by an application program, the operating system, or the computer. Messages and Codes discusses the error messages that are generated by the computer. If you receive an error message that is not listed there, check the operating system or application program documentation.

Input Errors

If a specific key or set of keys is pressed at the wrong time, a program may give you unexpected results. See the documentation that came with the application program to make sure that the values or characters you are entering are valid.

Make sure that the operating environment is set up to accommodate the programs you use. Keep in mind that whenever you change the parameters of the computer's operating environment, you may affect the successful operation of the programs. Sometimes, after modifying the operating environment, you may need to reinstall a program that no longer runs properly.

Program Conflicts

Some programs may leave portions of their setup information behind, even though you have exited from them. As a result, other programs cannot run. Rebooting the system can confirm whether or not these programs are the cause of the problem.

There are also programs that use specialized subroutines called device drivers that can cause problems with the computer system. For example, a variation in the way the data is sent to the monitor may require a special screen driver program that expects a certain kind of video mode or monitor. In such cases, you may have to develop an alternative method of running that particular program—by creating a start-up file made especially for that program, for example. Call the support service for the software you are using to help you with this problem.

Avoiding Interrupt Assignment Conflicts

Problems can arise if two devices attempt to use the same interrupt request (IRQ) line. To avoid this type of conflict, check the documentation for the IRQ line's default for each installed expansion card. Then consult Table 1, IRQ Line

Assignment Defaults, to configure the card for one of the available IRQ lines.

Table 1. IRQ Line Assignment Defaults

IRQ Line Used By/Available

IRQ0 Used by the system timer IRQ1 Used by the keyboard to signal that the output buffer is full IRQ2 Used by interrupt controller 1 to enable IRQ8 through IRQ15 IRQ3 Used by serial port 2 (COM2 and COM4) IRQ4 Used by serial port 1 (COM1 and COM3) IRQ5 Available unless used by a secondary parallel port IRQ6 Used by the diskette drive controller

IRQ7 Used by the primary parallel port

IRQ8 Used by the RTC IRQ9 Used for power management functions IRQ10 Available IRQ11 Available IRQ12 Used by the PS/2 mouse port unless the mouse is disabled in the System Setup program IRQ13 Used by the math coprocessor IRQ14 Available IRQ15 Available

NOTE: For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this table, see Abbreviations and Acronyms.

Back to Contents Page

Running the Dell Diagnostics: Dell® PowerEdge® 1300 Systems Installation and Troubleshooting Guide

Overview

Unlike many diagnostic programs, the Dell Diagnostics helps you check the computer's hardware without any additional equipment and without destroying any data. By using the diagnostics, you can have confidence in the computer system's operation. If you find a problem that you cannot solve by yourself, the diagnostic tests can provide you with important information you will need when talking to Dell's technical assistance representative.

CAUTION: Use the Dell Diagnostics to test only Dell computer systems. Using this program with other computers may cause incorrect computer responses or result in error messages.

Features of the Dell Diagnostics

The Dell Diagnostics provides a series of menus and options from which you choose particular test groups or subtests. You can also control the sequence in which the tests are run. The diagnostic test groups or subtests also have these helpful features:

Options that let you run tests individually or collectively An option that allows you to choose the number of times a test group or subtest is repeated The ability to display or print test results or to save them in a file Options to temporarily suspend testing if an error is detected or to terminate testing when an adjustable error limit is reached A menu option, called About, that briefly describes each test and its parameters Status messages that inform you whether test groups or subtests are completed successfully Error messages that appear if any problems are detected

When to Use the Dell Diagnostics

Whenever a major component or device in the computer system does not function properly, you may have a component failure. As long as the microprocessor and the input and output components of the computer system (the monitor, keyboard, and diskette drive) are working, you can use the Dell Diagnostics. If you know what component(s) you need to test, simply select the appropriate diagnostic test group(s) or subtest(s). If you are unsure about the scope of the problem, read the rest of the information in this file.

Starting the Dell Diagnostics

You can run the Dell Diagnostics from either the utility partition on your hard-disk drive or from a diskette that you

create from the Dell OpenManage™ Server Assistant CD.

How to Use the Dell Diagnostics

To run the diagnostics from the utility partition, follow these steps:

1. Start the utility partition by pressing <F10> during the power-on self-test (POST).

2. From the utility partition's main menu, select the Run System Diagnostics option from Run System Utilities.

See "Utility Partition" in "Using the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant" in the Dell PowerEdge 1300 Systems User's Guide for additional information about the utility partition.

To run the Dell Diagnostics from a diskette, perform the following steps:

1. Create a diagnostics diskette using the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD. See "Utility Partiton" in "Using the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD" in the User's Guide for information on creating diskettes.

2. Boot the system from the diagnostics diskette.

If the system fails to boot, see Getting Help for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

NOTE: Before you read the rest of this file, you may want to start the Dell Diagnostics so you can see it on your monitor screen.

When you start the diagnostics, the Dell logo screen appears, followed by a message telling you that the diagnostics is loading. Before the diagnostics loads into memory, a program tests the random-access memory (RAM) that will be used by the diagnostics.

If no errors are found in RAM, the diagnostics loads, and the DIAGNOSTICS menu appears (see Figure 1, Diagnostics

Menu). The menu allows you to run all or specific diagnostic tests or to exit the Dell Diagnostics.

For a quick check of the system, select RUn Quick Tests. This option runs only the subtests that do not require user interaction and that do not take a long time to run. Dell recommends that you choose this option first to increase the odds of tracing the source of the problem quickly. For a complete check of the system, select Run All Tests. To check a particular area of the system, select RuN Specific Tests.

To select an option from the DIAGNOSTICS menu, highlight the option and press <Enter>, or press the key that corresponds to the highlighted letter in the option you choose.

Figure 1. Diagnostics Menu

When you select RuN Specific Tests from the DIAGNOSTICS menu, the main screen of the diagnostics appears. Figure 2, Dell Diagnostics Main Screen, shows a sample main screen; the actual text on your system may vary depending on your system configuration.

Information on the main screen of the diagnostics is presented in the following four areas:

Two lines at the top of the main screen identify the diagnostics and give its version number. On the left side of the screen, the Available Test Groups area lists the diagnostic test groups in the order they will run if you select All under the Run submenu. Press the up- or down-arrow key to highlight a test group. On the right side of the screen, the System Configuration area lists the computer's current hardware settings. Two lines at the bottom of the screen make up the Main Menu area. The first line lists the menu options you can select; press the left- or right-arrow key to highlight an option. The second line gives information about the highlighted option.

Figure 2. Dell Diagnostics Main Screen

NOTE: The options displayed on the screen should reflect the hardware configuration of the computer system.

Confirming the System Configuration Information

When you boot the system from the diagnostics diskette, the Dell Diagnostics checks the system configuration information and displays it in the System Configuration area on the main screen.

The following sources supply this configuration information for the Dell Diagnostics:

The system configuration information settings (stored in nonvolatile RAM [NVRAM]) that you selected while using the System Setup program Identification tests of the microprocessor, the video controller, the keyboard controller, and other key components Basic input/output system (BIOS) configuration information temporarily saved in RAM

Do not be concerned if the System Configuration area does not list the names of all the components or devices you

know are part of the computer system. For example, you may not see a printer listed, although you know one is

attached to the computer. Instead, the printer is listed as a parallel port. The computer recognizes the parallel port as LPT1, which is an address that tells the computer where to send outgoing information and where to look for incoming information. Because the printer is a parallel communications device, the computer recognizes the printer by its LPT1 address and identifies it as a parallel port.

How to Use the Main Menu

The Main Menu at the bottom of the screen provides options that enable you to select and run specific diagnostic tests from the diagnostics main screen. Options on the menu are selectable using the left- and right-arrow keys. As you move from one menu option to another, a brief explanation of the highlighted option appears on the bottom line of the screen.

If you want more information about a test group or subtest, move the highlight to the About option and press <Enter>. After reading the information, press <Esc> to return to the previous screen.

Main Menu Options

Eight options are listed in the Main Menu of the diagnostics main screen: Run, seLect, Subtest, Options, Test Limits, About, Key-Help, and Quit. (An additional option, Display the Run Menu, returns you to the DIAGNOSTICS menu shown in Figure 1, Diagnostics Menu.)

NOTE: Before running any test groups or subtests (by selecting Run), you should consider setting global parameters within Options. Global parameters offer you greater control over how the test groups or subtests are run and how results are reported.

There are two ways to select a menu option:

Look on the screen to see which letter in the option is capitalized, and type that letter (for example, type r to select the Run option). Move the highlight to the option you wish to select by pressing the left- or right-arrow key, and then press <Enter>.

Whenever one of the eight options is selected, additional choices become available. The following subsections explain the menu options as listed from left to right in the Main Menu.

Run

Run displays five options: One, Selected, All, Key-Help, and Quit Menu. If you select One, all the subtests within the

highlighted test group are run. If you choose Selected, only the selected test groups or the subtests that you selected within the test groups are run. If you select All, all of the subtests in all of the test groups are run. (The test groups or subtests are run in the same order as they are listed.)

Key-Help displays a list of key controls available for the particular option you have chosen. The Quit Menu option returns you to the previous menu.

seLect

The seLect option allows you to select individual test groups to tailor the testing process to your particular needs. You can choose one or more test groups and run them sequentially or individually. When you choose seLect, five options are displayed: All, One, Clear All, Key-Help, and Quit Menu.

To select all the test groups, press <Enter> when All is highlighted in the seLect menu. To select an individual test group, highlight the test group and press <Spacebar> or highlight One and press <Enter>.

Press the up- or down-arrow key to change the highlighted test group. To reverse a test group selection, highlight the test group and press <Spacebar>. To clear all selections, select Clear All. Key-Help displays a list of key controls available for the particular option you have chosen. Quit Menu returns you to

the previous menu.

Subtest

Most of the test groups consist of several subtests. Use the Subtest option to select individual subtests within the test group(s).

When you select Subtest, many of the same options as those on the Main Menu are displayed: Run, Select, Options, Test Limits, About, Key-Help, and Quit Menu. Each of these options is explained in the following subsections.

Run Under Subtest

Run in the Subtest menu displays five options: One, Selected, All, Key-Help, and Quit Menu. If you select One, only the highlighted subtest is run. If you select Selected, only the selected subtests are run. If you select All, all of the subtests listed on the screen are run. (The subtests are run in the same order as they are listed.)

The Key-Help option displays a list of key controls available. The Quit Menu option returns you to the previous menu.

Select Under Subtest

Select in the Subtest menu allows you to select individual subtests to tailor the testing process to your particular needs.

You can choose one or more subtests from the list. When you choose Select, five options are displayed: All, One, Clear All, Key-Help, and Quit Menu.

To select all the subtests, press <Enter> when All is highlighted in the Select menu. To select an individual subtest, highlight the subtest and press <Spacebar> or highlight One and press <Enter>. Press the up- or down-arrow key to highlight a subtest to be selected.

To reverse a subtest selection, highlight the subtest and press <Spacebar>. To clear all selections, select Clear All.

Key-Help displays a list of key controls available. The Quit Menu option returns you to the previous menu.

Options Under Subtest

Options in the Subtest menu functions the same way as Options in the Main Menu. For information on this option,

see Options

Test Limits Under Subtest

Test Limits in the Subtest menu functions the same way as the Test Limits option in the Main Menu. For information

on this option, see Test Limits

About Under Subtest

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