Dell Understanding Diagnostic Light Codes During POST

Diagnostic Lights	Power	Problem Description	Suggested Resolution
	Light

amber	A possible failure has been
	detected in a plug-in
	component such as a graphics
(blinking)	riser card or memory
	riser card.

Verify that any required power cables are connected to the memory and graphics riser cards.

Perform the procedure in "Power Problems" in your User’s Guide.

amber	A possible power supply	Verify that both power supply cables are
	failure has occurred.	plugged in to the motherboard.

(blinking)

Diagnostic Light Codes During POST

The power light displays a solid green for diagnostic light codes during POST.

Light Pattern	Problem Description	Suggested Resolution
	A possible processor failure has	Reinstall the processor and restart the computer.
	occurred.
	A possible expansion card failure	1 Determine if a conflict exists by removing a card
	has occurred.		(not the graphics card) and then restarting the 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" on page 32).
		4	If the problem persists, contact Dell.
	A possible graphics card failure	1 If the computer has a graphics card, remove the card,
	has occurred.		reinstall it, and then restart the computer.
		2	If the problem still exists, install a graphics card that
			you know works and restart the computer.
		3	If the problem persists or the computer has integrated
			graphics, contact Dell.
	A possible floppy or hard drive	Reseat all power and data cables and restart the computer.
	failure has occurred.

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