Aptio 4.x Status Codes: Checkpoints & Beep Codes For Debugging
Aptio 4.x Status Codes: Checkpoints & Beep Codes For Debugging
x Status Codes
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Aptio 4.x Status Codes
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Table of Contents
DOCUMENT INFORMATION 4
Purpose 4
Audience 4
References 4
Change History 4
Review History 4
Viewing Checkpoints 5
APTIO CHECKPOINTS 6
Checkpoint Ranges 6
Standard Checkpoints 6
SEC Phase 6
SEC Beep Codes 7
PEI Phase 7
PEI Beep Codes 9
DXE Phase 9
DXE Beep Codes 12
ACPI/ASL Checkpoints 12
Document Information
Purpose
This document lists standard status codes generated by Aptio 4.x core firmware. The checkpoints
defined in this document are inherent to the Aptio 4.x core generic core, and do not include any chipset
or board specific checkpoint definitions.
Audience
The intended audiences are Generic Chipset Porting Engineers, OEM Porting Engineers, Technicians,
and AMI Customers.
References
AMI Debug Rx product page
AMI Debug Rx User Manual
AMI Debug Rx Quick Start Guide
Change History
Date Revision Description
2009-03-12 1.00 First Public Version
2009-12-30 1.10 Updated with information on AMI Debug Rx. Corrected some of use of
“status code” where the term “checkpoint” should be used. Added
‘References’ section with links to additional documentation. Updated
checkpoint values based on latest core implementation. Resorted beep
code tables (ascending).
2009-12-31 1.11 Updated properties.
2012-01-06 1.12 Updated information
2013-03-14 1.13 Updated information
Review History
Date Comments Approval
Introduction
A status code is a data value used to indicate progress during the boot phase. A subset of these status
codes, known commonly as checkpoints, indicate common phases of the BIOS boot process.
Checkpoints are typically output to I/O port 80h, but Aptio 4.x core can be configured to send status
codes to a variety of sources. Aptio 4.x core outputs checkpoints throughout the boot process to
indicate the task the system is currently executing. Checkpoints are very useful in aiding software
developers or technicians in debugging problems that occur during the pre-boot process.
Viewing Checkpoints
Checkpoints generated by Aptio firmware can be viewed using a PCI
checkpoint card, also referred to as a “POST Card” or “POST Diagnostic
Card”. These PCI add-in cards show the value of I/O port 80h on a LED
display. Checkpoint cards are available through a variety of computer mail-
order outlets.
Newer systems feature support for AMI Debug
Rx, a USB connected alternative to the PCI
POST Card. AMI Debug Rx is a low-cost debug
tool built around the debug port feature common
to today’s USB 2.0 EHCI controllers.
AMI Debug Rx is designed as replacement for
the PCI POST Checkpoint Card as newer
systems omit PCI expansion slots. Along with
checkpoints, AMI Debug Rx has a number of
features specifically designed for BIOS
developers.
1
Analogous to “bootblock” functionality of legacy BIOS
2
Analogous to “POST” functionality in legacy BIOS
Aptio Checkpoints
Checkpoint Ranges
Status Code Range Description
0x01 – 0x0B SEC execution
0x0C – 0x0F SEC errors
0x10 – 0x2F PEI execution up to and including memory detection
0x30 – 0x4F PEI execution after memory detection
0x50 – 0x5F PEI errors
0x60 – 0x8F DXE execution up to BDS
0x90 – 0xCF BDS execution
0xD0 – 0xDF DXE errors
0xE0 – 0xE8 S3 Resume (PEI)
0xE9 – 0xEF S3 Resume errors (PEI)
0xF0 – 0xF8 Recovery (PEI)
0xF9 – 0xFF Recovery errors (PEI)
Standard Checkpoints
SEC Phase
Status Code Description
0x00 Not used
Progress Codes
0x01 Power on. Reset type detection (soft/hard).
0x02 AP initialization before microcode loading
0x03 North Bridge initialization before microcode loading
0x04 South Bridge initialization before microcode loading
0x05 OEM initialization before microcode loading
0x06 Microcode loading
0x07 AP initialization after microcode loading
0x08 North Bridge initialization after microcode loading
0x09 South Bridge initialization after microcode loading
0x0A OEM initialization after microcode loading
0x0B Cache initialization
PEI Phase
Status Code Description
Progress Codes
0x10 PEI Core is started
0x11 Pre-memory CPU initialization is started
0x12 Pre-memory CPU initialization (CPU module specific)
0x13 Pre-memory CPU initialization (CPU module specific)
0x14 Pre-memory CPU initialization (CPU module specific)
0x15 Pre-memory North Bridge initialization is started
0x16 Pre-Memory North Bridge initialization (North Bridge module specific)
0x17 Pre-Memory North Bridge initialization (North Bridge module specific)
0x18 Pre-Memory North Bridge initialization (North Bridge module specific)
0x19 Pre-memory South Bridge initialization is started
0x1A Pre-memory South Bridge initialization (South Bridge module specific)
0x1B Pre-memory South Bridge initialization (South Bridge module specific)
0x1C Pre-memory South Bridge initialization (South Bridge module specific)
0x1D – 0x2A OEM pre-memory initialization codes
0x2B Memory initialization. Serial Presence Detect (SPD) data reading
0x2C Memory initialization. Memory presence detection
0x2D Memory initialization. Programming memory timing information
0x2E Memory initialization. Configuring memory
0x2F Memory initialization (other).
0x30 Reserved for ASL (see ASL Status Codes section below)
0x31 Memory Installed
0x32 CPU post-memory initialization is started
0x33 CPU post-memory initialization. Cache initialization
0x34 CPU post-memory initialization. Application Processor(s) (AP) initialization
0x35 CPU post-memory initialization. Boot Strap Processor (BSP) selection
0x36 CPU post-memory initialization. System Management Mode (SMM) initialization
0x37 Post-Memory North Bridge initialization is started
DXE Phase
Status Code Description
ACPI/ASL Checkpoints
Status Code Description
0x01 System is entering S1 sleep state
0x02 System is entering S2 sleep state
0x03 System is entering S3 sleep state
0x04 System is entering S4 sleep state
0x05 System is entering S5 sleep state
0x10 System is waking up from the S1 sleep state
0x20 System is waking up from the S2 sleep state
0x30 System is waking up from the S3 sleep state
0x40 System is waking up from the S4 sleep state
0xAC System has transitioned into ACPI mode. Interrupt controller is in PIC mode.
0xAA System has transitioned into ACPI mode. Interrupt controller is in APIC mode.