Dell Precision 390: Before You Start Testing Beep Codes Code Cause
Before You Start Testing Beep Codes Code Cause: Dell Precision 390
Table of contents
- Notes, Notices, and Cautions Abbreviations and Acronyms
- Contents
- Finding Information What Are You Looking For? Find It Here
- What Are You Looking For? Find It Here
- What Are You Looking For? Find It Here
- What Are You Looking For? Find It Here
- Setting Up Your Computer (Tower Orientation) Connect the keyboard and the mouse. Connect the modem or the network cable.
- Connect the monitor.
- For single- and dual-monitor capable cards with a single connector
- For dual-monitor capable cards with one DVI connector and one VGA connector For dual-monitor capable cards with two DVI connectors
- Connect the speakers. Connect the power cables and turn on the computer and monitor.
- Install additional software or devices. Setting Up Your Computer (Desktop Orientation) Connect the keyboard and the mouse.
- Connect the modem or the network cable. Connect the monitor.
- For single- and dual-monitor capable cards with a single connector
- For dual-monitor capable cards with one DVI connector and one VGA connector For dual-monitor capable cards with two DVI connectors
- Connect the speakers. Connect the power cables and turn on the computer and monitor. Install additional software or devices.
- About Your Computer Front View (Tower Orientation) 1 CD- or DVD-drive activity light
- 14 network link light The network light is on when the computer sends or receives data over a network
- Back View (Tower Orientation)
- Front View (Desktop Orientation) 6 IEEE 1394 connector (optional)
- 13 network link light The network light is on when the computer sends or receives data over a network
- Back View (Desktop Orientation)
- Back-Panel Connectors 3 link integrity light
- 11 keyboard connector If you have a standard keyboard, plug it into the purple keyboard connector.
- Inside View
- Cable Colors System Board Components
- 12 PCI-Express x1 card slot 24 processor connector (CPU) Locating Your User’s Guide
- To access the User’s Guide from your hard drive: To access your User’s Guide from the Dell Support website: Removing the Computer Cover
- Caring for Your Computer
- Solving Problems Troubleshooting Tips Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore Creating a Restore Point
- Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State Undoing the Last System Restore Enabling System Restore
- Using the Last Known Good Configuration Other Options to Help Resolve Additional Device or Software Conflicts Dell Diagnostics When to Use the Dell Diagnostics
- Starting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive Starting the Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities CD
- Before You Start Testing Beep Codes Code Cause
- Code Cause Error Messages Diagnostic Lights Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution
- Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution
- Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution
- Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution
- Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution
- Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution Frequently Asked Questions How Do I... Solution Where to Find Additional Information
- How Do I... Solution Where to Find Additional Information

Before You Start Testing
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in the Product
Information Guide.
• Turn on your printer if one is attached.
• Enter system setup, review your computer’s configuration information, and enable all of your
computer’s components and devices, such as connectors.
Beep Codes
Your computer might emit a series of beeps during start-up if the monitor cannot display errors or problems.
This series of beeps, called a beep code, identifies a problem. One possible beep code (code 1-3-1) consists
of one beep, a burst of three beeps, and then one beep. This beep code tells you that the computer
encountered a memory problem.
If a beep code is emitted, write it down and look it up in the following table.
Code Cause
1-1-2 Microprocessor register failure
1-1-3 NVRAM read/write failure
1-1-4 ROM BIOS checksum failure
1-2-1 Programmable interval timer failure
1-2-2 DMA initialization failure
1-2-3 DMA page register read/write failure
1-3 Video Memory Test failure
1-3-1 through 2-4-4 Memory not being properly identified or used
1-3-2 Memory problem
3-1-1 Slave DMA register failure
3-1-2 Master DMA register failure
3-1-3 Master interrupt mask register failure
3-1-4 Slave interrupt mask register failure
3-2-2 Interrupt vector loading failure
3-2-4 Keyboard Controller Test failure
3-3-1 NVRAM power loss
3-3-2 Invalid NVRAM configuration
3-3-4 Video Memory Test failure
3-4-1 Screen initialization failure
36 Quick Reference Guide

