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Advanced Troubleshooting
Dell™Dimension™8250Series
Diagnostic Lights
Beep Codes
System Messages
Drivers
Using System Restore
Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities
Reinstalling Microsoft®Windows®XP
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.
The computer is in a normal off
condition or a possible pre-BIOS failure
has occurred.
Verify that the computer power cable is plugged into the computer and a working electrical
outlet. Press the power button.
Other failure has occurred.
l Ensure that the cables are properly connected from the hard drive, CD drive, and DVD
drive to the system board.
l If the problem persists, contact Dell. See your Owner's Manual for contact information.
A possible expansion card failure has
occurred.
1. Determine if a conflict exists by removing a card (not the video 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 you removed from the computer for resource conflicts (see "Resolving
Software and Hardware Incompatibilities").
4. If the problem persists, contact Dell. See your Owner's Manual for contact information.
Memory modules are detected, but a
memory failure has occurred.
Remove and reinstall all memory modules and CRIMMs. Ensure that all the connector tabs
are locked. Restart the computer.
Install the memory modules in memory connectors RIMM1 (located closest to the
microprocessor) and RIMM2 and ensure that, if no additional memory is used, CRIMMs are
installed in memory connectors RIMM3 and RIMM4.
If you installed memory modules in memory connectors RIMM3 and RIMM4 that were not
purchased from Dell, remove the modules and replace them with the CRIMMs that were
originally installed in your computer.
If available, install Dell memory of the same type into your computer.
If the problem persists, contact Dell. See your Owner's Manual for contact information.
A possible microprocessor failure has
occurred.
Reinstall the microprocessor and restart the computer.
Memory modules are detected, but a
memory configuration or compatibility
error exists.
l Ensure that there are no special memory module/memory connector placement
requirements (see "Adding Memory").
l Verify that the memory modules that you are installing are compatible with your
computer. See "Memory" in the "Technical Specifications."
l Reinstall the memory modules and restart the computer.
l If the problem persists, contact Dell. See your Owner's Manual for contact information.
A possible floppy or hard drive failure
has occurred.
Check all power and data cable connections and restart the computer.
