Error 2000-0142 from Dell ePSA or SupportAssist means the drive failed its built-in self test. The closely related 2000-0146 means an error was recorded in the drive's self-test log. Both identify the drive; neither tells you how bad it is.
Why the code alone is not a disposition decision
A self-test failure is a pass/fail summary. For a machine being graded for resale or scrap, what matters is whether the drive has a small number of retired sectors or ongoing unreadable ones — a distinction the code hides.
The values worth reading
- Reallocated sector count — sectors already retired to the spare pool.
- Uncorrectable sector count — sectors that failed even with error correction.
- Current pending sector count — unreadable sectors not yet remapped.
Alongside these the check reports power-on hours, power cycle count, temperature, drive model, serial and firmware, so a failing drive can be recorded against the exact asset it came from.
Reading them on a machine that will not boot
- Boot the ITAD Tools iPXE toolkit over the network or from USB.
- Select Drive Health Check.
- Read the reported values — nothing is written to the drive.
This works regardless of the installed operating system's state, which matters for hardware pulled from service before it was wiped.
Run the free bootable Drive Health Check
The ITAD Tools iPXE toolkit reads SMART data read-only, with no installed operating system and nothing to install on the machine.
Frequently asked questions
What is Dell error 2000-0142?
It is a Dell diagnostics result meaning the drive failed its built-in self test. Related codes such as 2000-0146 report a self-test log error on the same drive.
Does 2000-0142 mean the drive must be replaced?
It means the drive reported a self-test failure. Reading the sector-level attributes shows whether defects are extensive or limited, which is what a disposition decision depends on.
What is the difference between 2000-0142 and 2000-0146?
0142 reports a failed self test; 0146 reports an error recorded in the drive's self-test log. Both point at the same drive and warrant reading the same attributes.
Can this tool fix error 2000-0142?
No. The Drive Health Check is strictly read-only. It reports what the drive stores; it does not repair, reset, or remap anything.
Can I test a Dell machine that will not boot to Windows?
Yes. The toolkit boots over the network or from USB and needs no installed operating system.