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BIOS - Beep Codes

The document discusses BIOS beep codes which indicate hardware errors detected during the POST. It provides the beep code patterns for AMI and Phoenix BIOS brands and the meaning of each code, such as single beeps indicating DRAM refresh failure or multiple beeps indicating issues with memory, timers, processors or other components.

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12 views2 pages

BIOS - Beep Codes

The document discusses BIOS beep codes which indicate hardware errors detected during the POST. It provides the beep code patterns for AMI and Phoenix BIOS brands and the meaning of each code, such as single beeps indicating DRAM refresh failure or multiple beeps indicating issues with memory, timers, processors or other components.

Uploaded by

gefinna
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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BIOS Beep Codes

When a computer is first turned on, or rebooted, its BIOS performs a power-on self test (POST) to
test the system's hardware, checking to make sure that all of the system's hardware components are
working properly. Under normal circumstances, the POST will display an error message; however, if the
BIOS detects an error before it can access the video card, or if there is a problem with the video card, it will
produce a series of beeps, and the pattern of the beeps indicates what kind of problem the BIOS has
detected.
Because there are many brands of BIOS, there are no standard beep codes for every BIOS. The two
most-used brands are AMI (American Megatrends International) and Phoenix.
Below are listed the beep codes for AMI systems, and here are the beep codes for Phoenix systems.
AMI Beep Codes

Beep Code Meaning

DRAM refresh failure. There is a problem in the system memory or the


1 beep
motherboard.

2 beeps Memory parity error. The parity circuit is not working properly.

3 beeps Base 64K RAM failure. There is a problem with the first 64K of system memory.

System timer not operational. There is problem with the timer(s) that control
4 beeps
functions on the motherboard.

5 beeps Processor failure. The system CPU has failed.

Gate A20/keyboard controller failure. The keyboard IC controller has failed,


6 beeps
preventing gate A20 from switching the processor to protect mode.

7 beeps Virtual mode exception error.

Video memory error. The BIOS cannot write to the frame buffer memory on the
8 beeps
video card.

9 beeps ROM checksum error. The BIOS ROM chip on the motherboard is likely faulty.

CMOS checksum error. Something on the motherboard is causing an error when


10 beeps
trying to interact with the CMOS.

11 beeps Bad cache memory. An error in the level 2 cache memory.

1 long beep, 2 short Failure in the video system.

1 long beep, 3 short A failure has been detected in memory above 64K.

1 long beep, 8 short Display test failure.

Continuous beeping A problem with the memory or video.

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