Amber LED state White LED state System state Notes
3 1 BIOS state 4 BIOS Post code (Old LED 
pattern 0100) Combine PCI 
device config or failure with 
video sub sytem config or failure. 
BIOS to eliminate 0101 video 
code.
3 2 BIOS state 5 BIOS Post code (Old LED 
pattern 0110) Combine storage 
and USB config or failure. BIOS 
to eliminate 0111 USB code.
3 3 BIOS state 6 BIOS Post code (Old LED 
pattern 1000) MEM config, no 
memory detected.
3 4 BIOS state 7 BIOS Post code (Old LED 
pattern 1001) Fatal Motherboard 
error.
3 5 BIOS state 8 BIOS Post code (Old LED 
pattern 1010) Mem config, 
modules incompatible or invalid 
config.
3 6 BIOS state 9 BIOS Post code (Old LED 
pattern 1011) combine "Other 
pre-video activity and resource 
configuration codes. BIOS to 
eliminate 1100 code.
3 7 BIOS state 10 BIOS Post code (Old LED 
pattern 1110) Other pre-post 
activity, routine subsequent to 
video init.
Diagnostic error messages
Table 6. Diagnostic error messages
Error messages Description
AUXILIARY DEVICE FAILURE 
The touchpad or external mouse may be faulty. For an external 
mouse, check the cable connection. Enable the Pointing Device 
option in the System Setup program.
BAD COMMAND OR FILE NAME 
Ensure that you have spelled the command correctly, put spaces in 
the proper place, and used the correct path name.
CACHE DISABLED DUE TO FAILURE 
The primary cache internal to the microprocessor has failed. 
Contact Dell
CD DRIVE CONTROLLER FAILURE 
The optical drive does not respond to commands from the 
computer.
DATA ERROR
The hard drive cannot read the data.
DECREASING AVAILABLE MEMORY 
One or more memory modules may be faulty or improperly seated. 
Reinstall the memory modules or, if necessary, replace them.
DISK C: FAILED INITIALIZATION 
The hard drive failed initialization. Run the hard drive tests in Dell 
Diagnostics.
DRIVE NOT READY
The operation requires a hard drive in the bay before it can 
continue. Install a hard drive in the hard drive bay.
110 Troubleshooting