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beep codes on system startup

What is a BIOS Beep Code?

When you power on a computer the BIOS immediately takes control of the computer and performs the P.O.S.T (Power On Self Test). At the end of the POST the computer will play an audible 'BEEP' through either the PC's internal speaker of through speakers attached to the sound card (if you have a built-in sound chip). If the POST completed successfully without detecting any problems with then system will play a single short beep to let you know the test is complete and the computer will continue to startup and load the operating system. If during the POST the BIOS detects a problem it will normally display a visual error message on the monitor explaining what the problem is. However, if a problem is detected before the BIOS initializes the video card, or a video card is not present or not detected then the BIOS will play several 'BEEPS' through the speaker to let you know there is a problem. Depending on the type of the BIOS you have the BIOS may play beeps in a specific pattern to indicate what the problem is, or play the same beep a number of times indicating the problem. It is very important that you pay close attention to the number and/or pattern of the beeps your computer plays on startup.

Below is a table of the most common AMI, Phoenix and Award BIOS beep codes.

AMI (American Megatrends International) BIOS Beep Codes.

AMI BIOS uses beeps of the same length and pitch. The error is displayed as a number of beeps. For example, 4 beeps indicated a timer failure.

BEEP CODE	MEANING	POSSIBLE CAUSE
1 Beep (No video)	Memory refresh failure	Bad memory
2 Beeps	Memory parity error	Bad memory
3 Beeps	Base 64K mem failure	Bad memory
4 Beeps	Timer not operational	Bad motherboard
5 Beeps	Processor error	Bad processor
6 Beeps	8042 Gate A20 failure	Bad CPU or Motherboard
7 Beeps	Processor exception	Bad processor
8 Beeps	Video memory error	Bad video card or memory
9 Beeps	ROM checksum error	Bad BIOS
10 Beeps	CMOS checksum error	Bad motherboard
11 Beeps	Cache memory bad	Bad CPU or motherboard

Award BIOS Beep Codes

Award BIOS uses beeps of varying duration. A long beep will typically last for 2 seconds while a short beep will last only 1 second. Award BIOS also uses beeps of different frequency to indicate critical errors. If an Award BIOS detects that the CPU is overheating it may play a high pitched repeating beep while the computer is running.

BEEP CODE	MEANING	POSSIBLE CAUSE
1 Long, 2 Short	Video adapter failure	Bad video adapter
Repeating (Endless loop)	Memory error	Bad memory or bad connection
1 Long, 3 Short	Video adapter failure	Bad video adapter or memory
High freq. beeps (while running)	CPU is overheating	CPU fan failure
Repeating High, Low beeps	CPU failure	Bad processor

Phoenix BIOS Beep Codes

Phoenix BIOS uses beep code patterns to indicate problems. In the table below the '-' indicates a brief pause between beeps. Example: 1 - 1 - 2 would sound like BEEP <pause> BEEP <pause> BEEP BEEP

BEEP CODE	MEANING	POSSIBLE CAUSE
1 - 1 - 2	CPU / motherboard failure	Bad CPU / motherboard
1 - 1 - 3	CMOS read/write failure	Bad motherboard
1 - 1 - 4	BIOS ROM failure	Bad BIOS chip
1 - 2 - 1	Timer failure	Bad motherboard
1 - 2 - 2	DMA failure	Bad motherboard
1 - 2 - 3	DMA failure	Bad motherboard
1 - 3 - 1	Memory refresh failure	Bad memory
1 - 3 - 2	64K memory failure	Bad memory
1 - 3 - 3	64K memory failure	Bad memory
1 - 3 - 4	64K memory failure	Bad memory
1 - 4 - 1	Address line failure	Bad memory
1 - 4 - 2	Parity error	Bad memory
1 - 4 - 3	Timer failure	Bad motherboard
1 - 4 - 4	NMI port failure	Bad motherboard
2 - 1 - 1	64K memory failure	Bad memory
2 - 1 - 2	64K memory failure	Bad memory
2 - 1 - 3	64K memory failure	Bad memory
2 - 1 - 4	64K memory failure	Bad memory
2 - 2 - 1	64K memory failure	Bad memory
2 - 2 - 2	64K memory failure	Bad memory
2 - 2 - 3	64K memory failure	Bad memory
2 - 2 - 4	64K memory failure	Bad memory
2 - 3 - 1	64K memory failure	Bad memory
2 - 3 - 2	64K memory failure	Bad memory
2 - 3 - 3	64K memory failure	Bad memory
2 - 3 - 4	64K memory failure	Bad memory
2 - 4 - 1	64K memory failure	Bad memory
2 - 4 - 2	64K memory failure	Bad memory
2 - 4 - 4	64K memory failure	Bad memory
2 - 4 - 4	64K memory failure	Bad memory
3 - 1 - 1	Slave DMA failure	Bad motherboard
3 - 1 - 2	Master DMA failure	Bad motherboard
3 - 1 - 3	Interrupt controller failure	Bad motherboard
3 - 1 -4	Slave IC failure	Bad motherboard
3 - 2 -2	Interrupt Controller failure	Bad motherboard
3 - 2 - 3	<RESERVED>
3 - 2 - 4	Keyboard control failure	Bad motherboard
3 - 3 - 1	CMOS batter failure	Bad CMOS battery
3 - 3 - 2	CMOS configuration error	Incorrect setting
3 - 3 - 3	<RESERVED>
3 - 3 - 4	Video memory failure	Bad video card or memory
3 - 4 - 1	Video init failure	Bad video card or memory
4 - 2 - 1	Timer failure	Bad motherboard
4 - 2 - 2	CMOS shutdown failure	Bad motherboard
4 - 2 - 3	Gate A20 failure	Bad motherboard
4 - 2 - 4	Unexpected interrupt	Bad processor
4 - 3 - 1	RAM test failure	Bad memory
4 - 3 - 3	Timer failure	Bad motherboard
4 - 3 - 4	RTC failure	Bad motherboard
4 - 4 - 1	Serial port failure	Bad motherboard
4 - 4 - 2	Parallel port failure	Bad motherboard
4 - 4 - 3	Coprocessor failure	Bad motherboard or CPU.
9 - 2 - 1	Video adapter incompatibility	Use a different brand of video card

Beep Code	Descriptions
1 short	DRAM refresh failure
2 short	Parity circuit failure
3 short	Base 64K RAM failure
4 short	System timer failure
5 short	Process failure
6 short	Keyboard controller Gate A20 error
7 short	Virtual mode exception error
8 short	Display memory Read/Write test failure
9 short	ROM BIOS checksum failure
10 short	CMOS shutdown Read/Write error
11 short	Cache Memory error
1 long, 3 short	Conventional/Extended memory failure
1 long, 8 short	Display/Retrace test failed

AWARD BIOS beep codes Below are Award BIOS Beep codes that can occur. However, because of the wide variety of different computer manufacturers with this BIOS, the beep codes may vary.

Beep Code	Description
1 long, 2 short	Indicates a video error has occurred and the BIOS cannot initialize the video screen to display any additional information
Any other beep(s)	RAM problem.

If any other correctable hardware issues, the BIOS will display a message.IBM BIOS beep codes Below are IBM BIOS Beep codes that can occur. However, because of the wide variety of models shipping with this BIOS, the beep codes may vary.

Beep Code	Description
No Beeps	No Power, Loose Card, or Short.
1 Short Beep	Normal POST, computer is ok.
2 Short Beep	POST error, review screen for error code.
Continuous Beep	No Power, Loose Card, or Short.
Repeating Short Beep	No Power, Loose Card, or Short.
One Long and one Short Beep	Motherboard issue.
One Long and Two Short Beeps	Video (Mono/CGA Display Circuitry) issue.
One Long and Three Short Beeps.	Video (EGA) Display Circuitry.
Three Long Beeps	Keyboard / Keyboard card error.
One Beep, Blank or Incorrect Display	Video Display Circuitry.

Macintosh startup tones

TONES	ERROR
Error Tone. (two sets of different tones)	Problem with logic board or SCSI bus.
Startup tone, drive spins, no video	Problem with video controller.
Powers on, no tone.	Logic board problem.
High Tone, four higher tones.	Problem with SIMM.

Beep Code	Descriptions
1 short	DRAM refresh failure
2 short	Parity circuit failure
3 short	Base 64K RAM failure
4 short	System timer failure
5 short	Process failure
6 short	Keyboard controller Gate A20 error
7 short	Virtual mode exception error
8 short	Display memory Read/Write test failure
9 short	ROM BIOS checksum failure
10 short	CMOS shutdown Read/Write error
11 short	Cache Memory error
1 long, 3 short	Conventional/Extended memory failure
1 long, 8 short	Display/Retrace test failed

AWARD BIOS beep codes Below are Award BIOS Beep codes that can occur. However, because of the wide variety of different computer manufacturers with this BIOS, the beep codes may vary.

Beep Code	Description
1 long, 2 short	Indicates a video error has occurred and the BIOS cannot initialize the video screen to display any additional information
Any other beep(s)	RAM problem.

Beep Code	Description
No Beeps	No Power, Loose Card, or Short.
1 Short Beep	Normal POST, computer is ok.
2 Short Beep	POST error, review screen for error code.
Continuous Beep	No Power, Loose Card, or Short.
Repeating Short Beep	No Power, Loose Card, or Short.
One Long and one Short Beep	Motherboard issue.
One Long and Two Short Beeps	Video (Mono/CGA Display Circuitry) issue.
One Long and Three Short Beeps.	Video (EGA) Display Circuitry.
Three Long Beeps	Keyboard / Keyboard card error.
One Beep, Blank or Incorrect Display	Video Display Circuitry.

Macintosh startup tones

TONES	ERROR
Error Tone. (two sets of different tones)	Problem with logic board or SCSI bus.
Startup tone, drive spins, no video	Problem with video controller.
Powers on, no tone.	Logic board problem.
High Tone, four higher tones.	Problem with SIMM.

Phoenix BIOS beep codes Below are the beep codes for PHOENIX BIOS Q3.07 OR 4.X

Beep Code	Description / What to Check
1-1-1-3	Verify Real Mode.
1-1-2-1	Get CPU type.
1-1-2-3	Initialize system hardware.
1-1-3-1	Initialize chipset registers with initial POST values.
1-1-3-2	Set in POST flag.
1-1-3-3	Initialize CPU registers.
1-1-4-1	Initialize cache to initial POST values.
1-1-4-3	Initialize I/O.
1-2-1-1	Initialize Power Management.
1-2-1-2	Load alternate registers with initial POST values.
1-2-1-3	Jump to UserPatch0.
1-2-2-1	Initialize keyboard controller.
1-2-2-3	BIOS ROM checksum.
1-2-3-1	8254 timer initialization.
1-2-3-3	8237 DMA controller initialization.
1-2-4-1	Reset Programmable Interrupt Controller.
1-3-1-1	Test DRAM refresh.
1-3-1-3	Test 8742 Keyboard Controller.
1-3-2-1	Set ES segment to register to 4 GB.
1-3-3-1	28 Autosize DRAM.
1-3-3-3	Clear 512K base RAM.
1-3-4-1	Test 512 base address lines.
1-3-4-3	Test 512K base memory.
1-4-1-3	Test CPU bus-clock frequency.
1-4-2-4	Reinitialize the chipset.
1-4-3-1	Shadow system BIOS ROM.
1-4-3-2	Reinitialize the cache.
1-4-3-3	Autosize cache.
1-4-4-1	Configure advanced chipset registers.
1-4-4-2	Load alternate registers with CMOS values.
2-1-1-1	Set Initial CPU speed.
2-1-1-3	Initialize interrupt vectors.
2-1-2-1	Initialize BIOS interrupts.
2-1-2-3	Check ROM copyright notice.
2-1-2-4	Initialize manager for PCI Options ROMs.
2-1-3-1	Check video configuration against CMOS.
2-1-3-2	Initialize PCI bus and devices.
2-1-3-3	Initialize all video adapters in system.
2-1-4-1	Shadow video BIOS ROM.
2-1-4-3	Display copyright notice.
2-2-1-1	Display CPU type and speed.
2-2-1-3	Test keyboard.
2-2-2-1	Set key click if enabled.
2-2-2-3	56 Enable keyboard.
2-2-3-1	Test for unexpected interrupts.
2-2-3-3	Display prompt "Press F2 to enter SETUP".
2-2-4-1	Test RAM between 512 and 640k.
2-3-1-1	Test expanded memory.
2-3-1-3	Test extended memory address lines.
2-3-2-1	Jump to UserPatch1.
2-3-2-3	Configure advanced cache registers.
2-3-3-1	Enable external and CPU caches.
2-3-3-3	Display external cache size.
2-3-4-1	Display shadow message.
2-3-4-3	Display non-disposable segments.
2-4-1-1	Display error messages.
2-4-1-3	Check for configuration errors.
2-4-2-1	Test real-time clock.
2-4-2-3	Check for keyboard errors
2-4-4-1	Set up hardware interrupts vectors.
2-4-4-3	Test coprocessor if present.
3-1-1-1	Disable onboard I/O ports.
3-1-1-3	Detect and install external RS232 ports.
3-1-2-1	Detect and install external parallel ports.
3-1-2-3	Re-initialize onboard I/O ports.
3-1-3-1	Initialize BIOS Data Area.
3-1-3-3	Initialize Extended BIOS Data Area.
3-1-4-1	Initialize floppy controller.
3-2-1-1	Initialize hard-disk controller.
3-2-1-2	Initialize local-bus hard-disk controller.
3-2-1-3	Jump to UserPatch2.
3-2-2-1	Disable A20 address line.
3-2-2-3	Clear huge ES segment register.
3-2-3-1	Search for option ROMs.
3-2-3-3	Shadow option ROMs.
3-2-4-1	Set up Power Management.
3-2-4-3	Enable hardware interrupts.
3-3-1-1	Set time of day.
3-3-1-3	Check key lock.
3-3-3-1	Erase F2 prompt.
3-3-3-3	Scan for F2 key stroke.
3-3-4-1	Enter SETUP.
3-3-4-3	Clear in-POST flag.
3-4-1-1	Check for errors
3-4-1-3	POST done--prepare to boot operating system.
3-4-2-1	One beep.
3-4-2-3	Check password (optional).
3-4-3-1	Clear global descriptor table.
3-4-4-1	Clear parity checkers.
3-4-4-3	Clear screen (optional).
3-4-4-4	Check virus and backup reminders.
4-1-1-1	Try to boot with INT 19.
4-2-1-1	Interrupt handler error.
4-2-1-3	Unknown interrupt error.
4-2-2-1	Pending interrupt error.
4-2-2-3	Initialize option ROM error.
4-2-3-1	Shutdown error.
4-2-3-3	Extended Block Move.
4-2-4-1	Shutdown 10 error.
4-3-1-3	Initialize the chipset.
4-3-1-4	Initialize refresh counter.
4-3-2-1	Check for Forced Flash.
4-3-2-2	Check HW status of ROM.
4-3-2-3	BIOS ROM is OK.
4-3-2-4	Do a complete RAM test.
4-3-3-1	Do OEM initialization.
4-3-3-2	Initialize interrupt controller.
4-3-3-3	Read in bootstrap code.
4-3-3-4	Initialize all vectors.
4-3-4-1	Boot the Flash program.
4-3-4-2	Initialize the boot device.
4-3-4-3	Boot code was read OK.

srig83819	Latest page update: made by srig83819 , Sep 10 2007, 9:07 AM EDT (about this update About This Update Edited by srig83819 2266 words added view changes - complete history)
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