BIOS error code. Bios beeps and their meanings

When you turn on the computer, it must undergo a self-diagnosis process and if you hear one short signal, then there is nothing to worry about, the computer is working properly. But if errors are detected during the self-test and the BIOS cannot display information on the monitor, you can hear various beeps. Different BIOS versions have different error notification options, and it’s worth mentioning right away that POST diagnostics is not a panacea; the BIOS tells us about “possible” system problems.

The BIOS version can be found out when the computer boots; the BIOS name usually appears on the screen first, or the BIOS brand can also be found by entering it using the DEL key (F 2, F 12, F 4, depending on the version). Alternatively, you can look at the chip markings on the motherboard. Below are tables of BIOS beeps from various manufacturers.

If, after successfully booting your computer, some data turns out to be damaged, contact our specialists, who perform high-quality and fast repairs.

AWARD BIOS signals:

Messages AwardBIOS displayed on the monitor screen:

AMI BIOS signals

AST BIOS signals:

Phoenix BIOS Signals:

Compaq BIOS Signals:

IBM Desktop BIOS signals:

IBM Thinkpad BIOS signals:

Mylex BIOS Signals:

Mylex 386 BIOS Signals:

Signals Quadtel BIOS:

Greetings to all readers of the IT Country website. In this article I want to tell you about BIOS sound signals. If your computer has a built-in speaker, you will hear a single beep when you restart or turn on the computer. It tells us that the computer components are working properly and the POST system did not reveal any problems. But it often happens that if with , then it starts making BIOS sounds.

Many users do not know what they mean and take the computer to the workshop. We will try to figure out on our own what the BIOS is beeping about and identify the cause of the malfunction. Since different motherboards have different basic input/output systems, first you need to determine which motherboard is on your computer. But everything is in order.

As I said above, we need BIOS sound signals in order to find out which component of the computer is faulty. As a rule, if it works properly, then when turned on we hear one short signal. Such signals are produced by a special speaker connected to the computer motherboard.

Pay attention! Your computer may not make any beeps if there is no speaker physically connected to the motherboard. The absence of a speaker on many boards is most likely because the manufacturer is trying to make the production of their product as cheap as possible.

Many of you have probably already asked the question: “What are the risks for me of using a computer without a speaker?” It would seem like such a small thing that is not needed at all if the computer is working, but many people start thinking about it when the computer breaks down. In this case, if a speaker is connected, the computer will emit a special beep or series of beeps in a specific sequence. To decipher such signals, you can refer to the motherboard manual. But as a rule, this book either does not exist, or nothing in it is clear to many of us. Therefore, below we will look at how to decipher BIOS sound signals. But first you need to determine its manufacturer.

To decipher BIOS beeps, you need to know the manufacturer. Since different motherboards had different basic input/output systems installed. You can find out this information in different ways. For example, when you turn on your computer, you see a black screen with data about your hard drives. On this screen, as a rule, the BIOS version and manufacturer are indicated at the top.

If the necessary information is quickly replaced by another, and you do not have time to see everything, then you need to press the “Pause” key. If, when you turn on your computer, you see a screensaver from the motherboard manufacturer, you need to press the “Tab” key to remove it.

The next way to find out the version of the basic input/output system is to log into it. To do this, when you turn on the computer, press the “Del”, “F1”, “F2” or other key. Depending on. After that, find the System Information section and look at the BIOS version and manufacturer.

Another way, which is quite simple, to find out the BIOS version and manufacturer is to look using the “System Information” utility. To do this, press the hotkey combination “Windows + R”, and in the “Run” command window that opens, type “MSINFO32”. A window with system information will open, in which we look at the line “BIOS version”

Finally, we will find out the version of the basic input/output system through the “CPU-Z” program.

We have already used it more than once in previous articles. Therefore, we launch the program, go to the board tab and look at the BIOS information.

Decoding BIOS signals.

Once we were able to determine the BIOS manufacturer. You and I need to move on to deciphering the signals.

AMI BIOS (American Megatrends Inc.) is probably the most famous manufacturer of BIOS for motherboards. If during the self-test, POST did not detect any problems, then you will hear a single short beep. After it, the operating system will immediately begin loading. If you hear other signals, then you should be wary, listen and decipher them.

Below is a table with a breakdown of AMI BIOS sound signals.

As a rule, if the computer starts beeping, sometimes a simple reboot or turning off the power to the system unit for a while helps. If this does not solve the problem, then at the end of the article I will tell you how to deal with the main malfunctions.

If you have a motherboard with this BIOS version, then it is characterized by special sounds. Which look like this. For example, the code 1-1-4 would sound like one pip, pause, another pip, pause again, and then four pips. This sound will indicate an incorrect BIOS ROM checksum. To decipher BIOS beeps on a motherboard with Phoenix BIOS, see the table below.

Another popular manufacturer of BIOS for motherboards. It is installed on many motherboards. Its display interface is classic and has not undergone any major changes for 10 years.

The sound signals are somewhat similar to the AMI BIOS. Therefore, it will not be difficult for you to decipher them. The table is presented below.

The most common BIOS sounds and what they mean.

I propose to consider the most common sound signals that we can hear when there is a problem with a computer.

• A long, single BIOS sound when you turn on the computer most often indicates problems with RAM;
• One long and two short - if you hear such a signal, then there is a high probability that there are problems with the video adapter. To begin with, just pull it out and clean the contacts. For example, an eraser will do. Also clean your computer from dust if you haven’t done this for a long time;
• One long and three short signals - this signal configuration indicates problems with the video card, RAM or keyboard;
• Three short beeps often indicate problems with the RAM. To solve the problem yourself, remove the memory module from the connector and clean it. If there are several memory modules, try starting the computer first with one, then with two, and so on;
• Five short BIOS signals tell us that the central processor is faulty. If you hear these beeps after installing a new CPU, it may be misaligned with the motherboard or you may have done something wrong. If the processor has not been changed, then perhaps it has failed or there is no contact in some place;
• Four long beeps - often tell us that the speed of the cooler cooling the processor is low;
• There are no signals, the computer does not turn on - most likely you have a problem with the power supply. Replace it with a good one.

Let's summarize.

Today we looked at BIOS sound signals. As a rule, if when you turn on your computer you hear a whole serenade from your computer instead of the usual single squeak, then you now know that you need to decipher the signals. In most cases, you can solve the problem yourself. Very often the problem is solved after cleaning the contacts of the computer components or by simply rebooting and de-energizing the system.

Most people paid attention to the fact that when the computer is turned on, before the OS starts loading, there is always a beep. Normally, this is a short beep, indicating that testing of PC components (Power On Self Test, or POST) has been completed without errors. If any problems are detected in the components, the computer will let you know about it using a specified number of short or long beeps. Correctly decoding the signal, you can find out exactly what kind of failure occurred in your PC.

BIOS beeps

As a rule, any working computer emits a short beep before starting to boot - this nuance common to all types of motherboards and BIOS configurations. In some cases, it happens that the sound signal is not heard at all - this means that the manufacturer of your device decided to save a little money and did not equip the PC with a system speaker. For a working computer, this is not such a big problem, but in the event of a serious malfunction, you will not be able to understand the essence of the problem and fix it without the intervention of specialists.

If problems are detected in the operation of the hardware, BIOS starts making certain sounds, designed to tell the user exactly where the problem lies. The sequence of these signals varies, and in order to correctly decipher them, you need to know the BIOS manufacturer of your specific motherboard. Of course, the easiest way is to get the instructions for the motherboard, but what to do if for some reason it was not saved?

How to find out the BIOS manufacturer

There are several ways that are installed in the system:

Decoding BIOS signals

Once you have found out the manufacturer of your BIOS, you can proceed directly to deciphering the sound signals.

AMI

AWARD

Phoenix

Below are the beep values ​​for some motherboards.

Award BIOS

— No signals — The power supply is faulty or not connected to the motherboard.

— Continuous signal — The power supply is faulty. Needs replacement.

— 1 short signal — No errors detected. Typical behavior of a working computer - the computer boots normally.

— 2 short beeps — Minor errors detected. A prompt appears on the monitor screen to enter the CMOS Setup Utility program to correct the situation. Check that the cables are securely fastened in the hard drive and motherboard connectors.

— 3 long beeps — Keyboard controller error. Restart your computer. The motherboard may need to be replaced.

— 1 long + 1 short beeps — RAM problems detected. Check that the memory modules are installed correctly. Or replace with other memory modules.

1 long + 2 short beeps - Problem with the video card - the most common malfunction. It is recommended to remove the board and reinsert it. Also check the connection to the monitor's video card.

1 long + 3 short beeps - Keyboard initialization error. Check the connection between the keyboard and the connector on the motherboard.

1 long + 9 short signals - Error when reading data from the permanent memory chip. Reboot the computer or reflash the contents of the chip (if this mode is supported).

1 long repeating beep - Incorrect installation of memory modules. Try pulling them out and putting them in again.

1 short repeating signal - Problems with the power supply. Try to remove any dust that has accumulated in it.

AMI BIOS

No signals - The power supply is faulty or not connected to the motherboard.

1 short beep - No errors detected. The computer is ready to use.

2 short beeps - RAM parity error. Restart your computer. Check the installation of memory modules. Memory modules may need to be replaced.

3 short beeps - Error during operation of the main memory (first 64 KB). Restart your computer. Check the installation of memory modules in the slots. Memory modules may need to be replaced.

4 short beeps - The system timer is faulty. The motherboard may need to be replaced.

5 short beeps - The central processor is faulty. The processor may need to be replaced.

6 short beeps - The keyboard controller is faulty. Check the quality of the connection between the latter and the connector on the motherboard. Try replacing the keyboard. If this does not help, then the motherboard may need to be replaced.

7 short beeps - The motherboard is faulty.

8 short beeps - Problems with the video card.

9 short beeps - Checksum error on the contents of the BIOS chip. A corresponding message may appear on the monitor screen. It requires either replacing the chip or rewriting its contents (if it is Flash memory).

10 short - Unable to write to CMOS memory. The CMOS chip or motherboard needs to be replaced.

11 short beeps - The external cache memory is faulty. Replacement of cache memory modules is required.

1 long + 2 short beeps - The video card is faulty. Check the connection between the monitor and the connector on the video card. The video card may need to be replaced.

1 long + 3 short beeps - The video card is faulty. Check the connection between the monitor and the connector on the video card. The video card may need to be replaced.

1 long + 8 short beeps - Problems with the video card, or the monitor is not connected. Check the installation of the video card in the expansion slot again.

Phoenix BIOS

Phonenix BIOS manufacturers have developed their own interleaving signal system.

1-1-3 — Error in writing/reading CMOS data. The CMOS memory chip or motherboard needs to be replaced. It is also possible that the battery powering the CMOS memory chip has run out.

1-1-4 — Checksum error on the contents of the BIOS chip. The BIOS chip needs to be replaced or flashed (if using Flash memory).

1-2-1 - The motherboard is faulty. Turn off your computer for a while. If that doesn't help, replace the motherboard.

1-2-2 — DMA controller initialization error. The motherboard may need to be replaced.

1-2-3 — Error when trying to read/write to one of the DMA channels. The motherboard may need to be replaced.

1-3-1 - Problem with RAM. Replace memory modules.

— 1-3-3 — Error when testing the first 64 KB of RAM. Replace memory modules.

— 1-3-4 — Error when testing the first 64 KB of RAM. Replace memory modules.

— 1-4-1 — The motherboard is faulty. It may need to be replaced.

— 1-4-2 — Problem with RAM. Check the installation of memory modules in the slots.

— 1-4-3 — System timer error. The motherboard may need to be replaced.

— 1-4-4 — Error accessing the I/O port. This error may be caused by a peripheral device that uses this port for its operation.

— 3-1-1 — Error initializing the second DMA channel. The motherboard may need to be replaced.

— 3-1-2 — Error initializing the first DMA channel. The motherboard may need to be replaced.

— 3-1-4 — The motherboard is faulty. Turn off your computer for a while. If this does not help, you will have to replace the motherboard.

— 3-2-4 — Keyboard controller error. The motherboard may need to be replaced.

— 3-3-4 — Error when testing video memory. The video card itself may be faulty. Check the installation of the video card in the expansion slot.

— 4-2-1 — System timer error. The motherboard may need to be replaced.

— 4-2-3 — Error when operating line A20. The keyboard controller is faulty. Try replacing the motherboard or keyboard controller.

— 4-2-4 — Error when working in protected mode. The CPU may be faulty.

— 4-3-1 — Error when testing RAM. Check the installation of modules in the slots. Memory modules may need to be replaced.

— 4-3-4 — Real time clock error. The motherboard may need to be replaced.

— 4-4-1 — Serial port testing error. May be caused by a device that uses the serial port for its operation.

— 4-4-2 — Parallel port testing error. May be caused by a device that uses a parallel port for its operation.

It is quite familiar to many users to hear a beep from the system unit when the computer is turned on. A single short signal indicates that “everything is in order.” And if, for example, 1 long signal or a series of sounds sounds instead, then it immediately becomes clear that a problem has occurred. This emits signals from the BIOS, the very program that runs first and tests all the components of the computer (from the central processor to the monitor).

The BIOS emits signals during the initial testing of the components of the system unit, while the video card has not yet been initialized, which can display certain text and tabular data on the monitor. Using them, you can identify a faulty unit inside the system unit or identify poor contact of external connections.

BIOS errors are coded into a specific combination of long and short signals. Moreover, they are all the same for motherboards of different years of production from almost all manufacturers (from the most famous to “noname”). BIOS error codes have a detailed description in the instructions for the motherboard, although often in English.

The BIOS can produce sounds under one obligatory condition: a small system speaker, as it is called, must be connected to the motherboard. Otherwise, BIOS errors will go unnoticed and the user will only see a dark monitor screen.

Sound signals: what is needed to decipher them?

If a single BIOS signal indicates normal startup of the computer, then a series of the same short or long sounds (combinations thereof) indicates the detection of problems, moreover, of a hardware nature. Then you will have to open the cover of the system unit. And even if the user does not interfere with the PC device himself, for example, due to the presence of factory seals on the cover screws, deciphering these signals will help determine the source of the problem.

The beep sounds may be different for different computer manufacturers because they use different BIOS versions. However, among them you can find those that are typical and most frequently used.

Diagnostics using BIOS sound signals is one of the most effective methods, without the use of special test boards (such as POST-card), therefore, despite the systematic development of production technologies, all motherboards come with a small speaker or at least a connector for its connections.

Sound signals are produced if there is a working power supply and speaker. If they are faulty, then no diagnosis will be possible. A faulty speaker can only be determined by replacing it with a known good one, which is not always available.

When everything works as intended, in order to decipher the error codes, you should use a special list that indicates typical signals for a given BIOS version.

Award BIOS beep codes

The most common among the numerous BIOS versions are considered to be those from the developer Award, which has been making its own programs for motherboards since the times when the Pentium brand did not even exist.

The list of typical signals that are the same for all versions of Award BIOS is as follows:

1. Continuous signal. Damage to the power supply. The easiest way to check whether this is true is by replacing the power supply with a known good one.
2. 2 short. The BIOS pays attention to minor errors, which, however, require entering the correct parameters, for example, by loading standard factory settings.
3. 3 long. The problem is with the keyboard block on the motherboard. The cause may be a short circuit in the keyboard or connecting cable, or in the motherboard (connector, electronics, conductive dust, etc.).
4. 1 long, 1 short. BIOS errors are caused by RAM modules. The easiest way to fix the problem is to remove the modules, blow the accumulated dust out of the connector, clean the contacts on the modules themselves and insert them back into the connector. You can leave only one module for the test period and, if necessary, change them, determining which one causes sound signals.
5. 1 long, 2 short. . For some video card models, such codes are issued when there is poor contact in the monitor connector, when at the moment of turning on the BIOS cannot detect the presence of a connection with it. To fix the problem, you can do the same with the video card as with the RAM in the previous paragraph.
6. 1 long, 3 short. The BIOS was unable to initialize the keyboard, which may indicate a problem with the keyboard itself or the connector or electronics of the motherboard. The easiest way is to temporarily disable the keyboard, then it will immediately become clear whether it is the source of the problem.
7. 1 long, 9 short. The BIOS chip itself is faulty. You just need to turn off your computer for a while and try to turn it on again. If the situation persists and the BIOS error codes do not change, then you should replace the motherboard or try to flash the chip using a special programmer.
8. 1 long, constantly repeating. Error while initializing memory. It is necessary to replace the modules or, at least, clean the contacts in the connector and try to turn on again.
9. 1 short, constantly repeated. Incorrect operation of the power supply. In any case, only replacing it with a working unit or repairing the existing unit will help. Bad contacts are practically never found here due to the large connectors compared to other components of the system unit.

AMI BIOS beep codes

The AMI developer is found less often in the BIOS of motherboards than its competitor Award, but, nevertheless, it has firmly occupied its own, albeit small, niche in this market, so you must be prepared to encounter its audio signal encoding system.

Decoding the coding of audio signals:

1. 2 short. The error is caused by incorrect operation of the RAM. In any case, you need to start by cleaning the connectors from dust, even if you plan to immediately install new modules to replace the “suspicious” ones.
2. 3 short. Like the previous point, this indicates a faulty RAM module.
3. 4 short. The system timer, which is the basis for the operation of all other components of the motherboard, is faulty. The only thing that can be done without replacing it is to turn off the system unit for a while.
4. 5 short. Error while initializing the CPU. You can either turn off the system unit for a while or remove the cooling system from the processor, pull it out of the connector, and then insert it back. If all else fails, then you will have to change the processor.
5. 6 short. The keyboard or its processing unit on the motherboard is faulty. To clarify the source, you can temporarily disable the keyboard and replace it with a known-good copy.
6. 7 short. There is a problem with the motherboard. In such a situation, a careful external inspection of the board for the presence of debris closing the contacts can help.
7. 8 short. The video card is faulty. You should replace it or, as a last resort, clean the contacts in the connector. You can temporarily turn on the built-in video card and check the computer's operation with it (if, of course, it is available).
8. 1 long, 2 short. Error while initializing the video card. The solutions are the same as in the previous paragraph.
9. 1 long, 3 short. There is a problem with the video card.
10. 1 long, 8 short. There is a problem with either the video card or the monitor.

The following lists of BIOS signals are the basis for diagnosing a computer when there are no other options. In most cases, they allow you to determine the source of the problem, which can simply be replaced with a known-good unit.