China DOS Union

POST self-test beep codes and their meanings

When a computer has a problem and cannot boot, the machine's power-on self-test program POST will send some prompt information through the PC speaker, letting you find the faulty component. Therefore, understanding the meanings of the sounds made by the computer is very important for solving various problems. Below, the beep codes are introduced according to the BIOS from different companies.

AMI BIOS

1 short Memory refresh failure
2 short Memory ECC check error
3 short System base memory (the first 64K) check failed
4 short System clock error
5 short Central processing unit (CPU) error
6 short Keyboard controller error
7 short System real-mode error, cannot switch to protected mode
8 short Display memory error (display memory may be bad)
9 short ROM BIOS checksum error
1 long 3 short Memory error (memory damaged, please replace it)
1 long 8 short Display test error (monitor data cable is loose or the display card is not seated firmly)

Award BIOS

1 short System boots normally
2 short General error, please enter CMOS SETUP and reset the incorrect options
1 long 1 short RAM or motherboard error
1 long 2 short Display error (monitor or display card)
1 long 3 short Keyboard controller error
1 long 9 short Motherboard FlashRAM or EPROM error (BIOS damaged)
Continuous beeping (long beeps) Memory not seated firmly or damaged
Nonstop beeping Power supply, monitor not properly connected to the display card
Repeated short beeps Power supply
No sound and no display Power supply

Phoenix BIOS

1 short System boots normally
3 short System power-on self-test initialization (POST) failed
1 short 1 short 2 short Motherboard error (motherboard damaged, please replace it)
1 short 1 short 3 short Motherboard battery dead or CMOS damaged
1 short 1 short 4 short ROM BIOS checksum error
1 short 2 short 1 short System real-time clock problem
1 short 2 short 2 short DMA channel initialization failed
1 short 2 short 3 short DMA channel page register error
1 short 3 short 1 short Memory channel refresh error (problem scope is all memory)
1 short 3 short 2 short Base memory error (memory damaged or RAS setting error)
1 short 3 short 3 short Base memory error (very likely the memory in the DIMM0 slot is damaged)
1 short 4 short 1 short Error at an address in base memory
1 short 4 short 2 short System base memory (the first 64K) has a parity check error
1 short 4 short 3 short EISA bus sequencer error
1 short 4 short 4 short EISA NMI port error
2 short 1 short 1 short System base memory (the first 64K) check failed
3 short 1 short 1 short First DMA controller or register error
3 short 1 short 2 short Second DMA controller or register error
3 short 1 short 3 short Main interrupt handler register error
3 short 1 short 4 short Secondary interrupt handler register error
3 short 2 short 4 short Keyboard clock problem, reset it to Not Installed in CMOS to skip POST
3 short 3 short 4 short Display card RAM error or no RAM, not a fatal error
3 short 4 short 2 short Monitor data cable is loose, or the display card is not seated firmly, or the display card is damaged
3 short 4 short 3 short Display card ROM BIOS not found
4 short 2 short 1 short System real-time clock error
4 short 2 short 2 short System boot error, improper CMOS settings or BIOS damaged
4 short 2 short 3 short Error with the Gate A20 switch in the keyboard controller (8042), BIOS cannot switch to protected mode
4 short 2 short 4 short Protected-mode interrupt error
4 short 3 short 1 short Memory error (memory damaged or RAS setting error)
4 short 3 short 3 short System second clock error
4 short 3 short 4 short Real-time clock error
4 short 4 short 1 short Serial port (COM port, mouse port) fault
4 short 4 short 2 short Parallel port (LPT port, printer port) error
4 short 4 short 3 short Numeric coprocessor (8087, 80287, 80387, 80487) error