AMI BIOS
|
# of Beeps |
Error |
Description |
|
1 |
Refresh Failure |
The memory
refresh
circuitry is
faulty |
|
2 |
Parity Error |
Parity error in
the base (1st
64K) of memory |
|
3 |
64K Base Memory
Error |
Memory error in
the base memory
(1st 64K) |
|
4 |
Timer Not
Operational |
Timer 1 is not
functioning
(also caused by
error in base
memory) |
|
5 |
Processor Error |
CPU error |
|
6 |
8042 Gate A20
Failure |
Unable to switch
to protected
mode |
|
7 |
Processor
Exception
Interrupt error |
The CPU on the
CPU card
generated an
interrupt error |
|
8 |
Display Memory
Read/Write Error |
Video/graphics
card is missing,
incorrectly
seated, or has
faulty memory |
|
9 |
ROM checksum
error |
The ROM checksum
does not match
that of the BIOS |
|
10 |
Coms Shutdown
Register
Read/Write |
The shutdown
register for
coms RAM has
failed |
|
11 |
Cache Memory Bad |
The cache memory
test has failed.
Cache memory
will be
disabled. *** Do
NOT
enable it *** |
With the first 3 beep
codes, its well worth
re-seating the memory just
to make sure that it's in
correctly. Re-seat the
video card too.
Actually, you should ALWAYS
check RAM & video card
seating if there is any BIOS
code beeping on boot.
Always check for loose
components before sending
the board back as this is
the main cause of errors on
POST.
Award BIOS
Award states that they now
only use one beep from their
BIOS. This beep is one long
beep, then two short beeps.
This typically indicates a
video card problem. Any
other beep type should be
treated as a RAM problem
first, and if that fails,
the board will have to be
sent in for factory service.
The reason that the Award
BIOS only uses the beep code
for display problems is that
it tries to display the
error on-screen if at all
possible. If the BIOS cannot
initiate the display adapter
then this causes the BIOS to
make the beep code for a
display error, which must be
corrected before any other
errors can be determined.
Memory Test failure and hard
disk failures etc will all
be displayed on screen if
possible.
IBM BIOS
The IBM BIOS works with
Short and Long beeps as well
as the Award BIOS.
|
Beep Code |
Error |
|
1 Short Beep |
Normal POST,
System booted OK |
|
2 Short Beeps |
POST Error -
Code on Display |
|
No Beep |
Power supply or
Motherboard
error |
|
Continuous Beep
|
Power supply or
Motherboard
error |
|
Repeating short
beeps |
Power supply or
Motherboard
error |
|
1 short, 1 long
beep |
System board
error |
|
1 long, 2 short
beeps |
Display adapter
error (MDA/CGA) |
|
1 long, 3 short
beeps |
Display adapter
error (EGA/VGA) |
|
3 long beeps |
3270 keyboard
card |
Phoenix BIOS
The Phoenix BIOS works on a
slightly more complicated
manor than the others. It
does display an error code
for you and produce a series
of beeps. This BIOS produces
its beeps according to the
hexadecimal code the error
produces. The Phoenix BIOS
has many different codes for
its possible errors and so
there are many different
beep codes. Visit
their website for a current
list of codes by motherboard
model.
www.phoenix.com
System board errors should
be looked at by a
specialist.
Again always try to re-seat
components to ensure they
are in correctly. If
necessary take all
components out except for
the RAM, CPU and graphics
card, then try the system
again. More often then
not, re-seating the
components is the number one
fix for getting past POST
problems. Note that
one badly seated component
can cause the entire system
not to function. |
