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Advanced Troubleshooting

Dell™ Dimension™ 4600 Series Service Manual

Diagnostic Lights

Beep Codes

System Messages

Diagnostic Lights

To help you troubleshoot a problem, your computer is equipped with four lights on the back panel labeled "A," "B," "C," and "D." These lights can be yellow or green. When the computer starts normally, the lights flash. After the computer starts, the lights remain green. If the computer malfunctions, the color and sequence of the lights identify the problem.

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in your Owner's Manual or Product Information Guide.

Light Pattern

Problem Description

Suggested Resolution

 

 

 

 

The computer is in a normal

Verify that the computer is plugged into a working electrical outlet and that you have pressed the power

 

off condition or a possible

button.

 

pre-BIOS failure has

 

 

 

occurred.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memory modules are

If you have one memory module installed, reinstall it and restart the computer.

 

detected, but a memory

If you have two or more memory modules installed, remove the modules, reinstall one module, and

 

failure has occurred.

 

then restart the computer. If the computer starts normally, reinstall an additional module. Continue

 

 

 

until you have identified a faulty module or reinstalled all modules without error.

 

 

If available, install properly working memory of the same type into your computer.

 

 

If the problem persists, see "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's Manual for instructions on obtaining

 

 

 

technical assistance.

 

 

 

 

 

A possible expansion card

1.

Determine if a conflict exists by removing a card (not the video card) and then restarting the

 

failure has occurred.

 

computer.

 

 

2.

If the problem persists, reinstall the card that you removed, remove a different card, and then

 

 

 

restart the computer.

 

 

3.

Repeat this process for each card. If the computer starts normally, troubleshoot the last card

 

 

 

removed from the computer for resource conflicts (see "Resolving Software and Hardware

 

 

 

Incompatibilities" in your Owner's Manual).

 

 

4.

If the problem persists, see "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's Manual for instructions on obtaining

 

 

 

technical assistance.

 

 

 

 

 

A possible video card failure

If the computer has a video card, remove the card and reinstall it, and restart the computer.

 

has occurred.

If the problem still exists, install a video card that you know works and restart the computer.

 

 

If the problem persists or the computer has integrated video, see "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's

 

 

 

Manual for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

 

 

 

 

A possible floppy or hard

Reseat all power and data cables and restart the computer.

 

drive failure has occurred.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A possible USB failure has

Reinstall all USB devices, check cable connections, and then restart the computer.

 

occurred.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No memory modules are

Reinstall all memory modules and restart the computer.

 

detected.

To eliminate the possibility of a faulty memory connector, remove all memory modules, reinstall one

 

 

 

memory module at a time (if the computer supports a single module), and then restart the

 

 

 

computer. If the computer starts normally, move the memory module to a different connector and

 

 

 

restart the computer. Continue until you have identified a faulty connector or reinstalled all modules

 

 

 

without error.

 

 

 

 

 

Memory modules are

Ensure that there are no special memory module/memory connector placement requirements.

 

detected, but a memory

Verify that the memory modules that you are installing are compatible with your computer.

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Dell 4600 Advanced Troubleshooting, Diagnostic Lights, Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution