Understanding Beep Codes on a Dell Desktops
Summary: This article takes you through the beep codes for the Dell Inspiron, Vostro, OptiPlex, and XPS desktop computers.
This article applies to
This article does not apply to
This article is not tied to any specific product.
Not all product versions are identified in this article.
Instructions
Table of Contents:
- Introduction to Beep Codes
- Diagnostic LED or Beep Codes for Dell Desktops
Introduction to Beep Codes
Dell has a long tradition of building diagnostic indicators into our computers. These indicators can be useful in helping to diagnose and resolve any issues that your personal computer might experience while starting up. I have given a guide to the various codes for each family of desktop below.
If the display cannot show any errors that your computer might emit a series of beeps during start-up.
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Three means 3-3-3-3 …That is three beeps and three beeps and…: Endless looping until user presses the power button to shut down the computer.
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The delay between each beep is 300 milliseconds. The delay between each set of beeps is three seconds, and the beep sound lasts 300 milliseconds.
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After each beep and each set of beeps, the BIOS should detect if the user presses the power button. If so, the BIOS jumps out from looping and performs the normal shutdown process and turn off the computer.
Note: If your computer also has diagnostic indicator LEDs, you need to go to the support site to get the appropriate guide for your model.
Note: If your computer is giving a code that is not listed on this guide, then contact your local support to investigate this unknown code further.
If your computer is giving a listed code, then use the fault descriptions below to narrow your possible No Post troubleshooting. The No Post guide below is useful in troubleshooting your issue further.
Alternatively, you can Contact Us here.
Inspiron Desktops - Beep codes or LED codes
| Power LED Blinking/Beep Code | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| LED/Beep Code | Fault Description | Faults | Suggested Action |
| 1 | Motherboard: BIOS ROM Failure | Motherboard; covers BIOS corruption or ROM error. | Run the Run a Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 2 | Memory | No Memory (RAM) detected | Troubleshoot the Memory. |
| 3 | Motherboard: Chipset |
|
Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 4 | Memory | Memory (RAM) Failure | Troubleshoot the Memory. |
| 5 | Real-Time Clock Power Failure | CMOS battery failure | Try reseating the CMOS Battery and run the Run a Preboot Diagnostic Test if that does not resolve the issue. |
| 6 | Video BIOS | Video card/chip failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 7 | Central Processing Unit (CPU) | Central Processing Unit (CPU) Failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| Power LED Status | Power State |
|---|---|
| Off | Power is off, or the computer is in an S4 (hibernate) or S5 power state. LED is blank. |
| Solid White | The computer is in power-on state. |
| Solid Amber | The system board cannot start initialization. An issue with the system board, memory, processor, or the power supply. |
| Blinking Amber | The system board cannot start initialization or in an S3 power state. There is a power problem, a device may be malfunctioning or incorrectly installed. |
XPS Desktops - Beep codes or LED codes
| Repetitive Beep Code | Error Description | Suggested Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Possible motherboard failure - BIOS ROM checksum failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 2 | No RAM detected
NOTE: If you installed or replaced the memory module, ensure that the memory module is seated properly.
|
Troubleshoot the Memory. |
| 3 | Possible motherboard failure - Chipset error | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 4 | RAM read/write failure. | Troubleshoot the Memory. |
| 5 | Real Time Clock (RTC) power fail | Try reseating the CMOS Battery and run the Preboot Diagnostic Test if that does not resolve the issue. |
| 6 | Real-Time Clock failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 7 | Video card or chip failure. | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 8 | Processor failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
Vostro Desktops - Beep codes or LED codes
| Power LED Status (Flashing Amber) | Beep | Description | Failure Coverage | Suggested Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1 | BIOS ROM checksum in progress or failure. BIOS Chip | System board failure; covers BIOS corruption or ROM error. | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
 |
2 | No RAM Detected | No memory detected | Troubleshoot the Memory. |
 |
3 |
|
System board Failure (Power LED Blinking Amber) |
Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
 |
4 | RAM Read/Write failure | Memory failure | Troubleshoot the Memory. |
 |
5 | RTC Power Fail | COMS battery failure | Try reseating the CMOS Battery and run the Preboot Diagnostic Test if that does not resolve the issue. |
 |
6 | Video BIOS Test Failure | Video card failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
 |
7 | CPU Failure | CPU | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
OptiPlex Desktops - Beep codes or LED codes
| Diagnostic Beep Codes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Code | Cause | Suggested Resolution |
| 1-1-2 | Microprocessor register failure | Contact Technical Support |
| 1-1-3 | NVRAM | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 1-1-4 | ROM BIOS checksum failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 1-2-1 | Programmable interval timer | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 1-2-2 | DMA initialization failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 1-2-3 | DMA page register read/write failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 1-3-1 through 2-4-4 | DIMMs not being properly identified or used | Troubleshoot the memory modules and the memory slots. |
| 3-1-1 | Secondary DMA register failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 3-1-2 | Primary DMA register failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 3-1-3 | Primary interrupt mask register failure | Contact Technical Support |
| 3-1-4 | Secondary interrupt mask register failure | Contact Technical Support |
| 3-2-2 | Interrupt vector loading failure | Contact Technical Support |
| 3-2-4 | Keyboard Controller test failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 3-3-1 | NVRAM power loss | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 3-3-2 | NVRAM configuration | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 3-3-4 | Video Memory Test failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 3-4-1 | Screen initialization failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 3-4-2 | Screen retrace failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 3-4-3 | Search for video ROM failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 4-2-1 | No time tick | Contact Technical Support |
| 4-2-2 | Shutdown failure | Contact Technical Support |
| 4-2-3 | Gate A20 failure | Contact Technical Support |
| 4-2-4 | Unexpected interrupt in protected mode | Contact Technical Support |
| 4-3-1 | Memory failure above address 0FFFFh | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 4-3-3 | Timer-chip counter two failure. | Contact Technical Support |
| 4-3-4 | Time-of-day clock stopped | Contact Technical Support |
| 4-4-1 | Serial or parallel port test failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 4-4-2 | Failure to decompress code to shadowed memory | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 4-4-3 | Math co-processor test failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 4-4-4 | Cache test failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
NOTE: Starting from the D4 generation of OptiPlex models onwards (that is 7010/9010/9010 AIO), the beep codes are eliminated, replaced by a single memory error pattern. Now only no memory failure conditions generate the beep code, the beep pattern is 1-3-2 (one beep, then three beeps, then two beeps). This beep code tells you that the computer encountered a memory problem. The new beep codes emit only memory failure symptoms. Occasionally, reseating the memory modules may fix the beep code errors.
Precision Desktops - Beep codes and LED codes
| Beep Code | Description | Suggested Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| 1-1-2 | CPU register test in progress | Contact Technical Support |
| 1-1-3 | CMOS read/write test in progress or failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 1-1-4 | BIOS ROM checksum in progress or failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 1-2-1 | Timer Test in progress or failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 1-2-2 | DMA initialization in progress or failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 1-2-3 | DMA page register read/write test in progress or failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 1-3-1 | RAM refresh verification in progress or failure | Troubleshoot the memory and memory slots. |
| 1-3-2 | First 64 K RAM test in progress or failure | Troubleshoot the memory and memory slots. |
| 1-3-3 | First 64 K RAM chip or data line failure (multi bit) | Troubleshoot the memory and memory slots. |
| 1-3-4 | First 64 K RAM odd/even logic failure | Troubleshoot the memory and memory slots. |
| 1-4-1 | First 64 K RAM address line failure | Troubleshoot the memory and memory slots. |
| 1-4-2 | First 64 K RAM parity test in progress or failure | Troubleshoot the memory and memory slots. |
| 1-4-3 | Fail-safe timer test in progress | Troubleshoot the memory and memory slots. |
| 1-4-4 | Software NMI port test in progress | Troubleshoot the memory and memory slots. |
| 2-1-1 | First 64 K RAM chip or data line failure - bit 0 | Troubleshoot the memory and memory slots. |
| 2-1-2 | First 64 K RAM chip or data line failure - bit 1 | Troubleshoot the memory and memory slots. |
| 2-1-3 | First 64 K RAM chip or data line failure - bit 2 | Troubleshoot the memory and memory slots. |
| 2-1-4 | First 64 K RAM chip or data line failure - bit 3 | Troubleshoot the memory and memory slots. |
| 2-2-1 | First 64 K RAM chip or data line failure - bit 4 | Troubleshoot the memory and memory slots. |
| 2-2-2 | First 64 K RAM chip or data line failure - bit 5 | Troubleshoot the memory and memory slots. |
| 2-2-3 | First 64 K RAM chip or data line failure - bit 6 | Troubleshoot the memory and memory slots. |
| 2-2-4 | First 64 K RAM chip or data line failure - bit 7 | Troubleshoot the memory and memory slots. |
| 2-3-1 | First 64 K RAM chip or data line failure - bit 8 | Troubleshoot the memory and memory slots. |
| 2-3-2 | First 64 K RAM chip or data line failure - bit 9 | Troubleshoot the memory and memory slots. |
| 2-3-3 | First 64 K RAM chip or data line failure - bit A | Troubleshoot the memory and memory slots. |
| 2-3-4 | First 64 K RAM chip or data line failure - bit B | Troubleshoot the memory and memory slots. |
| 2-4-1 | First 64 K RAM chip or data line failure - bit C | Troubleshoot the memory and memory slots. |
| 2-4-2 | First 64 K RAM chip or data line failure - bit D | Troubleshoot the memory and memory slots. |
| 2-4-3 | First 64 K RAM chip or data line failure - bit E | Troubleshoot the memory and memory slots. |
| 2-4-4 | First 64 K RAM chip or data line failure - bit F | Troubleshoot the memory and memory slots. |
| 3-1-1 | Secondary DMA register test in progress or failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 3-1-2 | Primary DMA register test in progress or failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 3-1-3 | Primary IMR test in progress or failure | Contact Technical Support |
| 3-1-4 | Secondary IMR test in progress or failure | Contact Technical Support |
| 3-2-2 | Interrupt vector loading in progress | Contact Technical Support |
| 3-2-4 | Keyboard controller test in progress or failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 3-3-1 | CMOS power fail and checksum test in progress | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 3-3-2 | CMOS Config info validation in progress | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 3-3-3 | RTC/Keyboard controller not found | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 3-3-4 | Screen memory test in progress or failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 3-4-1 | Screen initialization test in progress or failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 3-4-2 | Screen retrace tests in progress or failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 3-4-3 | Search for video ROM in progress | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 4-2-1 | Timer tick interrupt test in progress or failure | Contact Technical Support |
| 4-2-2 | Shut down test in progress or failure | Contact Technical Support |
| 4-2-3 | Gate A20 failure | Contact Technical Support |
| 4-2-4 | Unexpected interrupt in Protected Mode | Contact Technical Support |
| 4-3-1 | RAM test in progress or failure above address 0FFFFh | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 4-3-2 | No memory in Bank 0 | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 4-3-3 | Interval Timer Channel 2 test in progress or failure | Contact Technical Support |
| 4-3-4 | Time-Of-Day Clock test in progress or failure | Contact Technical Support |
| 4-4-1 | Super I/O chip failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
| 4-4-4 | Cache test failure | Run the Preboot Diagnostic Test. |
NOTE: More recent models have eliminated the beep codes which where replaced by a single memory error pattern. Now only no memory failure conditions generate the beep code, the beep pattern is 1-3-2 (one beep, then three beeps, then two beeps). This beep code tells you that the computer encountered a memory problem. The new beep codes emit only memory failure symptoms. Occasionally, reseating the memory modules may fix the beep code errors.
If you require further assistance, contact Technical Support. Contact Us
Additional Information
Recommended Articles
Here are some recommended articles related to this topic that might be of interest to you.
- A reference guide to the Dell OptiPlex Diagnostic Indicators
- A reference guide to the Inspiron Desktop Diagnostic Indicators
- A Reference Guide to the Precision Workstation Diagnostic Indicators
- A reference guide to the XPS Desktop Diagnostic Indicators
- A reference guide to the Vostro Desktop Diagnostic Indicators
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Affected Products
Inspiron, OptiPlex, Vostro, XPS, G Series, Fixed WorkstationsArticle Properties
Article Number: 000124349
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 20 Dec 2023
Version: 13
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