System Flash Codes - Dell Latitude CP Reference And Troubleshooting Manual

Message
Shutdown failure
Time-of-day clock
lost power
Time-of-day clock
stopped
Time-of-day not
set—please run the
System Setup
program
Timer chip counter
2 failed
Unexpected
interrupt in
protected mode
Warning! Battery
is critically low.
NOTE: For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this table, see the Glossary in the online System User's Guide.

System Flash Codes

When errors that occur during the boot routine cannot be
reported on the built-in display or on an external monitor
(if attached), the Num Lock, Caps Lock, and Scroll Lock
indicators may flash together in a pattern of lights (or
flash code) that identifies the problem. For example, one
flash, followed by a second flash, and then a burst of
Table 3-2. System Error Messages (continued)
Cause
A chip on the system board
may be malfunctioning.
Data stored in NVRAM has
become corrupted.
The reserve battery that sup-
ports the data stored in
NVRAM may be dead.
The time or date stored in the
System Setup program does not
match the system clock.
A chip on the system board
may be malfunctioning.
The keyboard controller may be
malfunctioning, or an installed
memory module may be loose.
The battery is running out of
charge.
Action
Run the System Set test group in the Dell Diagnos-
tics. (For instructions, see Chapter 4, "Running the
Dell Diagnostics.")
Connect your computer to AC power to charge
the battery. If the problem persists, try to restore
the data. To restore the data, press <Fn><F1> to
enter the System Setup program. Then immediately
exit it (as described in "Using the System Setup Pro-
gram" in Chapter 2). If the message reappears, call
Dell for technical assistance. (For instructions, see
Chapter 5, "Getting Help.")
Connect your computer to AC power to charge
the battery. If the problem persists, call Dell for
technical assistance. (For instructions, see Chap-
ter 5, "Getting Help.")
Correct the settings for the Date and Time options.
(For instructions, see "Using the System Setup Pro-
gram" in Chapter 2.)
Run the System Set test group in the Dell Diagnos-
tics. (For instructions, see Chapter 4, "Running the
Dell Diagnostics.")
Run the RAM test group and the Keyboard Con-
troller Test in the Dell Diagnostics. (For instructions,
see Chapter 4, "Running the Dell Diagnostics.")
Replace the battery, or connect the computer to
AC power. Otherwise, activate suspend-to-disk
mode or turn off the computer. (For more infor-
mation, see the topic titled "Final Low-Battery
Warning" in the online System User's Guide.)
three flashes (code 1-1-3) means that the computer was
unable to read the data in nonvolatile random-access
memory (NVRAM). This information is important to the
Dell support staff if you need to call for technical
assistance.
Troubleshooting Your Computer 3-9