Quick Reference Guide 27
System Lights

These lights on the front of the computer can indicate a computer problem.

Power Light Hard-Drive Light Cause Corrective Action
Solid green N/A Power is on, and the computer is
operating normally.
No corrective action is required.
Blinking green Blank The computer is in the suspended
state (Windows XP).
Press the power button, move the
mouse, or press a key on the keyboard
to wake the computer. See "Power
Management" in the User’s Guide for
more information.
Blinks green
several times and
then turns off
N/A A configuration error exists. Check the diagnostic lights to see if
the specific problem is identified. See
the User’s Guide for more information.
Solid yellow N/A The Dell Diagnostics is running a
test, or a device on the system
board may be faulty or
incorrectlyinstalled.
If the Dell Diagnostics is running,
allow the testing to complete.
Check the diagnostic lights to see if
the specific problem is identified.
If the computer does not boot, contact
Dell for technical assistance.
Blinking yellow Blank A power supply or system board
failure has occurred.
Check the diagnostic lights to see if
the specific problem is identified. See
"Power Problems" in the User’s Guide.
Blinking yellow Solid green A system board or VRM failure
hasoccurred.
Check the diagnostic lights to see if
the specific problem is identified.
Solid green and a
beep code
duringPOST
N/A A problem was detected while the
BIOS was executing.
See "Beep Codes" on page28 for
instructions on diagnosing the beep
code. Also, check the diagnostic lights
to see if the specific problem
isidentified.
Solid green power
light and no beep
code and no video
during POST
N/A The monitor or the graphics card
may be faulty or incorrectly
installed.
Check the diagnostic lights to see if
the specific problem is identified. Also,
see "Video Problems" in the
User’s Guide.
Solid green power
light and no beep
code but the
computer locks
up during POST
N/A An integrated system board device
may be faulty.
Check the diagnostic lights to see if
the specific problem is identified. If
the problem is not identified, contact
Dell for technical assistance.