416 lines
18 KiB
Plaintext
416 lines
18 KiB
Plaintext
An Introduction to Troubleshooting Your IBM PC
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by
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Jerry Schneider
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Capital PC User Group
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The IBM PC family of computers (PC, Portable, XT and AT) comes
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complete with built-in diagnostic procedures to assist a user in
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identifying many problems that may occur with any of the computer's
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components. These diagnostic procedures include:
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1. A Power-On Self Test (POST) that is performed whenever a PC is
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powered up or turned on.
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2. General diagnostics testing that the user can perform using
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the Diagnostics Diskette and accompanying Problem
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Determination Procedures (PDPs) outlined in the Guide to
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Operations manual for each system.
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3. Optional advanced diagnostics testing that the user can
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perform using the Advanced Diagnostics Diskette and procedures
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provided in the Hardware, Maintenance and Service manual.
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Power-On Self Test (POST)
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Whenever you start up your computer, a series of tests are
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automatically performed checking various components in your system.
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This Power-On Self Test (POST) process provides error or warning
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messages whenever a faulty component is encountered. Two types of
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messages are provided: audio codes and display screen messages or
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codes.
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Audio codes consist of variations of sounds or beeps that identify the
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faulty component. If your computer is functioning normally, you will
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hear one short beep when the system is started up. If a problem is
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detected, a different series of audio codes will be sounded. These
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audio codes and corresponding problem areas are:
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Audio Code Problem Area
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No beep, continuous beep, or Power Supply
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repeating short beeps
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1 long beep and 1 short beep System Board
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l long beep and 2 short beeps, or Monitor adapter card and/or
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1 short beep and blank or monitor cable and/or display
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incorrect display
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1 short beep and either the Drive and/or drive adapter
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red drive LED staying on or card
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Personal Computer BASIC statement
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On the XT and AT, the POST procedures also display system memory
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as it is read. The last number displayed (640KB, for example) should
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be the total amount of memory in your system, including system board
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memory and any expansion memory.
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During the POST procedures, error messages or numeric codes will be
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displayed whenever a problem is detected. In most cases, the error
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code will be a three or four digit number that, when checked against
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the list provided in Table 1, will help identify the malfunctioning
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component.
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General Diagnostics Testing
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Each IBM computer comes with a Guide to Operations (GTO) manual; this
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is the manual in the reddish-purple binder. The GTO includes a
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Diagnostic diskette to assist you in identifying problems that your
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computer may be having.
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The Diagnostics diskette and corresponding Problem Determination
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Procedures (PDPs) section of the GTO manual provide step-by-step
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instructions to test the various parts of your computer system,
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including the system unit with installed options, expansion unit,
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keyboard, display, and printer. These tests should be performed when
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you first install your system, at periodic times during the lifetime of
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the system for precautionary purposes, and, of course, whenever errant
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behavior is detected or suspected.
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To run the diagnostics tests, place a backup copy of the Diagnostics
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diskette in your A: drive and turn on your system or, if the system is
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already on, press the CTRL, ALT, and DEL keys simultaneously to reboot
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the system. The main diagnostics menu will be displayed with options
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similar to the following:
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0 - SYSTEM CHECKOUT
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1 - FORMAT DISKETTE
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2 - COPY DISKETTE
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3 - PREPARE SYSTEM FOR MOVING
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4 - SETUP [AT only]
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9 - END DIAGNOSTICS
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Options 0, 1, and 2 are part of the diagnostics procedures. Option 3,
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"Prepare System For Moving", is used to "park" or secure the heads on a
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hard disk so that the system unit can be safely moved without damaging
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the disk or its contents; Option 4 is used with the AT to identify
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installed options when you first set up your system.
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Options 1 and 2 should be used whenever you want to check the operation
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of your floppy diskette drives or to prepare a diskette for use,
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without having to reload DOS, when performing the diagnostics
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procedures. For general testing, however, you should select Option 0,
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"System Checkout". When this option is selected, the system displays
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a list of installed options for verification and then provides a
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secondary menu of choices, similar to the following:
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0 - RUN TESTS ONE TIME
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1 - RUN TESTS MULTIPLE TIMES
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2 - LOG UTILITIES
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3 - END SYSTEM CHECKOUT
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Both Option 0 and 1 walk you through a series of tests that check each
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component in the system. During system testing, a three- or four-
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digit error code will be generated for each component tested. If no
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problem is found, the last two digits will be 00, for example 300, 900,
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or 1700. Table 1 is a listing of many of the error codes that may be
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generated during diagnostics testing.
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If an error is detected when running Option 0, it is often advisable to
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select the Log Utilities Option (2) to list any errors to disk or
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printer, and then select Option 1, Run Tests Multiple Times. This will
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help determine whether the problem is consistent or intermittent.
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While the GTO diagnostics do an excellent job at identifying specific
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problem areas or problem components, they provide limited assistance to
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correct the source of the errors. In fact, the information most
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frequently provided is to "Have your system unit [or problem device]
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serviced".
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Advanced Diagnostics Testing
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If you are the more adventuresome type, you can purchase the IBM
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Hardware Maintenance and Service (HMS) manual for your particular unit
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(prices are around $155). While the Guide to Operations manual is only
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good for identifying a problem component, the HMS manual provides
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information to both isolate and repair any failure of a "Field
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Replaceable Unit (FRU)", that is, any part or component that has
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interchangeable replacement parts that are stocked by IBM or the
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Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).
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The HMS includes an Advanced Diagnostics diskette and accompanying
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Problem Isolation Codes (PICs) instructions to isolate and identify
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problem components. To run the Advanced Diagnostics tests, follow the
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same procedures detailed in the previous section for General
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Diagnostics testing.
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The tests performed by the Advanced Diagnostics diskette are far more
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detailed and precise than those of the general Diagnostics diskette in
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the GTO. In addition to identifying the problem component, the
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Advanced Diagnostics further attempt to identify the specific part of
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the device that is malfunctioning.
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Once a problem is identified, the HMS provides detailed instructions to
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perform adjustments, preventive maintenance, removal and replacement of
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the effected part. To this end, comprehensive hardware and design
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information is available, including parts lists that specify
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replacement parts numbers, and internal design specifications.
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Table 1. Listing of IBM PC Diagnostic Error Codes
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All personal computer error codes for the Power-On Self Test, general
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Diagnostics, and Advanced Diagnostics are represented with the device
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number followed by two digits other than 00. The device number plus 00
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indicates successful completion of the test. This listing is a
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compilation from various sources, including USENET's Info-IBMPC Digest,
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IBM Technical Reference Manuals, and IBM Hardware, Maintenance and
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Service manuals.
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Code Description
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01x Undetermined problem errors.
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02x Power supply errors.
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1xx System board errors.
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101 System board error - Interrupt failure.
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102 System board error - Timer failure.
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103 System board error - Timer interrupt failure.
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104 System board error - Protected mode failure.
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105 System board error - Last 8042 command not accepted.
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106 System board error - Converting logic test.
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107 System board error - Hot NMI test.
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108 System board error - Timer bus test.
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109 Direct memory access test error.
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121 Unexpected hardware interrupts occurred.
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131 Cassette wrap test failed.
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152
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161 System Options Error-(Run SETUP) [Battery failure].
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162 System options not set correctly-(Run SETUP).
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163 Time and date not set-(Run SETUP).
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164 Memory size error-(Run SETUP).
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199 User indicated configuration not correct.
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2xx Memory (RAM) errors.
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201 Memory test failed.
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202 Memory address error.
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203 Memory address error.
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3xx Keyboard errors.
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301 Keyboard did not respond to software reset correctly or a
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stuck key failure was detected. If a stuck key was detected,
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the scan code for the key is displayed in hexadecimal. For
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example, the error code 49 301 indicates that key 73, the PgUp
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key has failed (49 Hex = 73 decimal).
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302 User indicated error from the keyboard test or AT system unit
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keylock is locked.
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303 Keyboard or system unit error.
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304 Keyboard or system unit error; CMOS does not match system.
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4xx Monochrome monitor errors.
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401 Monochrome memory test, horizontal sync frequency test, or
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video test failed.
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408 User indicated display attributes failure.
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416 User indicated character set failure.
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424 User indicated 80X25 mode failure.
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432 Parallel port test failed (monochrome adapter).
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5xx Color monitor errors.
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501 Color memory test failed, horizontal sync frequency
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test, or video test failed.
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508 User indicated display attribute failure.
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516 User indicated character set failure.
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524 User indicated 80X25 mode failure.
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532 User indicated 40X25 mode failure.
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540 User indicated 320X200 graphics mode failure.
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548 User indicated 640X200 graphics mode failure.
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6xx Diskette drive errors.
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601 Diskette power on diagnostics test failed.
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602 Diskette test failed; boot record is not valid.
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606 Diskette verify function failed.
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607 Write protected diskette.
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608 Bad command diskette status returned.
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610 Diskette initialization failed.
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611 Timeout - diskette status returned.
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612 Bad NEC - diskette status returned.
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613 Bad DMA - diskette status returned.
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621 Bad seek - diskette status returned.
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622 Bad CRC - diskette status returned.
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623 Record not found - diskette status returned.
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624 Bad address mark - diskette status returned.
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625 Bad NEC seek - diskette status returned.
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626 Diskette data compare error.
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7xx 8087 or 80287 math coprocessor errors.
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9xx Parallel printer adapter errors.
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901 Parallel printer adapter test failed.
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10xx Reserved for parallel printer adapter.
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11xx Asynchronous communications adapter errors.
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1101 Asynchronous communications adapter test failed.
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12xx Alternate asynchronous communications adapter errors.
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1201 Alternate asynchronous communications adapter test failed.
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13xx Game control adapter errors.
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1301 Game control adapter test failed.
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1302 Joystick test failed.
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14xx Printer errors.
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1401 Printer test failed.
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1404 Matrix printer failed.
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15xx Synchronous data link control (SDLC) communications adapter
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errors.
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1510 8255 port B failure.
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1511 8255 port A failure.
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1512 8255 port C failure.
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1513 8253 timer 1 did not reach terminal count.
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1514 8253 timer 1 stuck on.
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1515 8253 timer 0 did not reach terminal count.
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1516 8253 timer 0 stuck on.
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1517 8253 timer 2 did not reach terminal count.
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1518 8253 timer 2 stuck on.
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1519 8273 port B error.
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1520 8273 port A error.
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1521 8273 command/read timeout.
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1522 Interrupt level 4 failure.
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1523 Ring Indicate stuck on.
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1524 Receive clock stuck on.
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1525 Transmit clock stuck on.
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1526 Test indicate stuck on.
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1527 Ring indicate not on.
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1528 Receive clock not on.
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1529 Transmit clock not on.
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1530 Test indicate not on.
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1531 Data set ready not on.
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1532 Carrier detect not on.
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1533 Clear to send not on.
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1534 Data set ready stuck on.
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1536 Clear to send stuck on.
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1537 Level 3 interrupt failure.
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1538 Receive interrupt results error.
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1539 Wrap data miscompare.
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1540 DMA channel 1 error.
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1541 DMA channel 1 error.
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1542 Error in 8273 error checking or status reporting.
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1547 Stray interrupt level 4.
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1548 Stray interrupt level 3.
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1549 Interrupt presentation sequence timeout.
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16xx Display emulation errors (327x, 5520, 525x).
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17xx Fixed disk errors.
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1701 Fixed disk POST error.
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1702 Fixed disk adapter error.
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1703 Fixed disk drive error.
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1704 Fixed disk adapter or drive error.
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1780 Fixed disk 0 failure.
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1781 Fixed disk 1 failure.
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1782 Fixed disk controller failure.
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1790 Fixed disk 0 error.
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1791 Fixed disk 1 error.
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18xx I/O expansion unit errors.
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1801 I/O expansion unit POST error.
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1810 Enable/Disable failure.
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1811 Extender card warp test failed (disabled).
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1812 High order address lines failure (disabled).
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1813 Wait state failure (disabled).
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1814 Enable/Disable could not be set on.
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1815 Wait state failure (disabled).
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1816 Extender card warp test failed (enabled).
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1817 High order address lines failure (enabled).
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1818 Disable not functioning.
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1819 Wait request switch not set correctly.
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1820 Receiver card wrap test failure.
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1821 Receiver high order address lines failure.
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19xx 3270 PC attachment card errors.
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20xx Binary synchronous communications (BSC) adapter errors.
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2010 8255 port A failure.
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2011 8255 port B failure.
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2012 8255 port C failure.
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2013 8253 timer 1 did not reach terminal count.
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2014 8253 timer 1 stuck on.
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2016 8253 timer 2 did not reach terminal count or timer 2 stuck on.
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2017 8251 Data set ready failed to come on.
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2018 8251 Clear to send not sensed.
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2019 8251 Data set ready stuck on.
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2020 8251 Clear to send stuck on.
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2021 8251 hardware reset failed.
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2022 8251 software reset failed.
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2023 8251 software "error reset" failed.
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2024 8251 transmit ready did not come on.
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2025 8251 receive ready did not come on.
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2026 8251 could not force "overrun" error status.
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2027 Interrupt failure - no timer interrupt.
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2028 Interrupt failure - transmit, replace card or planar.
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2029 Interrupt failure - transmit, replace card.
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2030 Interrupt failure - receive, replace card or planar.
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2031 Interrupt failure - receive, replace card.
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2033 Ring indicate stuck on.
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2034 Receive clock stuck on.
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2035 Transmit clock stuck on.
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2036 Test indicate stuck on.
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2037 Ring indicate stuck on.
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2038 Receive clock not on.
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2039 Transmit clock not on.
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2040 Test indicate not on.
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2041 Data set ready not on.
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2042 Carrier detect not on.
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2043 Clear to send not on.
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2044 Data set ready stuck on.
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2045 Carrier detect stuck on.
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2046 Clear to send stuck on.
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2047 Unexpected transmit interrupt.
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2048 Unexpected receive interrupt.
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2049 Transmit data did not equal receive data.
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2050 8251 detected overrun error.
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2051 Lost data set ready during data wrap.
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2052 Receive timeout during data wrap.
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21xx Alternate binary synchronous communications adapter errors.
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2110 8255 port A failure.
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2111 8255 port B failure.
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2112 8255 port C failure.
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2113 8253 timer 1 did not reach terminal count.
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2114 8253 timer 1 stuck on.
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2115 8253 timer 2 did not reach terminal count or timer 2 stuck on.
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2116 8251 Data set ready failed to come on.
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2117 8251 Clear to send not sensed.
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2118 8251 Data set ready stuck on.
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2119 8251 Clear to send stuck on.
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2120 8251 hardware reset failed.
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2121 8251 software reset failed.
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2122 8251 software "error reset" failed.
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2123 8251 transmit ready did not come on.
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2124 8251 receive ready did not come on.
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2125 8251 could not force "overrun" error status.
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2126 Interrupt failure - no timer interrupt.
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2128 Interrupt failure - transmit, replace card or planar.
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2129 Interrupt failure - transmit, replace card.
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2130 Interrupt failure - receive, replace card or planar.
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2131 Interrupt failure - receive, replace card.
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2133 Ring indicate stuck on.
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2134 Receive clock stuck on.
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2135 Transmit clock stuck on.
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2136 Test indicate stuck on.
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2137 Ring indicate stuck on.
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2138 Receive clock not on.
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2139 Transmit clock not on.
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2140 Test indicate not on.
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2141 Data set ready not on.
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2142 Carrier detect not on.
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2143 Clear to send not on.
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2144 Data set ready stuck on.
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2145 Carrier detect stuck on.
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2146 Clear to send stuck on.
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2147 Unexpected transmit interrupt.
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2148 Unexpected receive interrupt.
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2149 Transmit data did not equal receive data.
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2150 8251 detected overrun error.
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2151 Lost data set ready during data wrap.
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2152 Receive timeout during data wrap.
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22xx Cluster adapter errors.
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24xx Enhanced graphics adapter errors.
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29xx Color matrix printer errors.
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2901
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2902
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2904
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33xx Compact printer errors.
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