Common POST Beep Codes.
What is a BIOS Beep Code?
When you power on a computer the BIOS immediately takes control of the computer and performs the
P.O.S.T (Power On Self Test). At the end of the POST the computer will play an audible 'BEEP' through
either the PC's internal speaker of through speakers attached to the sound card (if you have a built-in
sound chip). If the POST completed successfully without detecting any problems with the system will play
a single short beep to let you know the test is complete and the computer will continue to startup and load
the operating system.
Beeps.
Fault.
No Beep: System Dead.
Power Supply not plugged in.
Continuous Beeps.
Power Supply not plugged correctly into Motherboard.
Keyboard Stuck.
Repeating Short Beep.
Power Supply problem.
1 short beep, nothing on screen.
Video card failure.
1 short beep, video present, system won’t boot. Bad floppy drive, cable or connector.
2 short beeps.
Configuration error on PS/2 systems.
1 long, 1 short beep.
System board failure.
1 long, 2 short beeps.
Video card failure.
Common Post Error Codes.
1**
Usually indicates system board error.
161
CMOS battery failure.
164
Memory size error.
2**
Memory related problem
201
Memory test failed.
3**
Keyboard issue, stuck keys
301
Keyboard error.
4**
Monochrome video error.
5**
Colour video error.
6**
Floppy Disc error.
601
Floppy disc error. Adapter or cable or drive.
17**
Hard Disk issue, geometry or cable.
1780
Drive C failure. Adapter or configuration.
1781
Drive D failure. Controller or configuration or adapter.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Manufacturer Specific Beep Codes.
1. General POST (initial system boot) BEEP Codes
If you do not know the BIOS manufacturer, the following will be the general Beep codes:
• 1 Long and 1 Short Beep - Bad Motherboard
• 1 Short Beep and nothing else happens Disk Drive/Video Related Problems
• 1 Long and 2 Short Beeps - Bad Video Card
• 1 Continuous Beep or Non-stop short Beeps - Bad Power Supply
• 3 Short Beeps - Bad Memory
2. American Megatrends Inc. (AMI) BEEP Codes
• 1 Beep - Memory refresh timer error.
Reseat the memory, or replace with known good modules.
• 2 Beeps - Parity Error
Reseat the memory, or replace with known good modules.
• 3 Beeps - Main memory read / write test error.
Reseat the memory, or replace with known good modules.
• 4 Beeps - Motherboard timer not operational
• 5 Beeps - Processor Errors
• 6 Beeps - Keyboard controller BAT test error.
• 7 Beeps - General exception error.
• 8 Beeps - Display memory error.
If the system video adapter is an add-in card, replace or reseat the video adapter. If the video adapter
is an integrated part of the system board, the board may be faulty.
• 9 Beeps - ROM checksum error
• 10 Beeps - CMOS shutdown register read/write error
• 11 Beeps - Cache Memory Bad
Beeps 4-7, 9-11
Fatal error indicating a serious problem with the system. Consult your system manufacturer.
Before declaring the motherboard beyond all hope, eliminate the possibility of interference by a
malfunctioning add-in card. Remove all expansion cards except the video adapter .If the beep codes
are generated even when all other expansion cards are absent, the motherboard has a serious problem.
Consult your system manufacturer.
If the beep codes are not generated when all other expansion cards are absent, one of the add-in cards
is causing the malfunction. Insert the cards back into the system one at a time until the problem
happens again. This will reveal the malfunctioning add-in card.
3. Award Bios BEEP Codes
• 1 Long Beep: Memory problem
Explanation: There is a failure of some sort related to the system memory.
Diagnosis: The first bank of memory probably has a failure of some sort; this is usually just a physical
problem such as an incorrectly inserted module, but may also mean a bad memory chip in a module. It
is possible that there is a failure related to the motherboard or a system device as well.
• 1 Long, then 2 Short Beeps: Video error
Explanation: The BIOS is unable to access the video system in order to write any error messages to the
screen.
Diagnosis: This is usually caused by a problem with the video card, or the memory on the video card. It
can also be a motherboard issue.
• 1 Long, then 3 Short Beeps: Video error
Explanation: The BIOS is unable to access the video system in order to write any error messages to the
screen.
Diagnosis: This is usually caused by a problem with the video card, or the memory on the video card. It
can also be a motherboard issue.
• Continuous Beeping: Memory or video problem
Explanation: The system is producing constant beeping in no specific pattern, or a fast "ringing" sound.
Diagnosis: This is usually caused by a problem with the system memory, or possibly the video card. The
memory is more likely--the system complains long and loud if it can't find any usable memory, as there
is no way to even start the boot process when this is the case. The motherboard itself could also be the
problem.
• Other Beep Codes
Explanation: You have encountered an Award BIOS beep code I do not have documented.
Diagnosis: Award says that any beep patterns other than "one long followed by two short" are likely
problems with the system memory. However, of late they have started adding other beep codes to
their systems as well.
4. Phoenix BEEP Codes
• 1-1-3
Explanation: Your computer can't read the configuration information stored in the CMOS.
Diagnosis: Replace the motherboard.
• 1-1-4
Explanation: Your BIOS needs to be replaced.
Diagnosis: Got to your motherboard manufacturers web site and download the new Bios.
• 1-2-1
Explanation: You have a bad timer chip on the motherboard.
Diagnosis: Replace the motherboard.
• 1-2-2 or 1-2-3 or 1-3-1 or 1-3-3 or 1-3-4 or 1-4-1
Explanation: Motherboards is bad.
Diagnosis: Replace the motherboard.
• 1-4-2
Explanation: Some of your memory is bad.
Diagnosis: Go to Basic Trouble Shooting
• 1-3-1
Explanation: Motherboards is bad.
Diagnosis: Replace the motherboard.
• 2-_-_ Any combination of beeps after two
Explanation: Some of your memory might be bad.
Diagnosis: Go to Basic Trouble Shooting
• 3-1-_
Explanation: One of the chips on your motherboard is broken.
Diagnosis: Replace the motherboard.
• 3-2-4
Explanation: Keyboard controller failure.
Diagnosis:
• 3-3-4
Explanation: Your computer can't find the video card.
Diagnosis: Is it there? If so, try swapping it with another one and see if it works.
• 3-4-_
Explanation: Your video card isn't working.
Diagnosis: Replace Video Card.
5. IBM BIOS.
Number and Duration of Beeps
Message
none - Power Supply or System Board failure (possible short)
one short - Passed (no errors)
one short - (blank screen) Video error (check cable)
one short - (no boot) Floppy Drive error
two short - Configuration Error (displayed on screen)
repeating short - Power Supply or System Board failure
continuous - Power Supply or System Board / Keyboard stuck
one long, one short - System Board failure
one long, two short - Video (Mono/CGA) failure (check cable)
one long, three short - Video (EGA) failure (check cable)
three long - Keyboard Card error