BIOS Beep Codes List

An Introduction to BIOS Beep Codes

When you power on your computer, the motherboard's basic input/output system (BIOS) first detects the computer's internal hardware configuration and then performs the power-on self-test (POST). The POST executes several diagnostic tests that check the basic functionality of the power supply, motherboard, CPU, I/O Bus Controller, RAM, keyboard, and video components. If the computer passes the POST, it will usually return a single short beep or two short beeps, depending on the BIOS manufacturer. If the POST detects any problems, it will halt the boot process and return an error message either visually on the screen and/or audibly through a series of beeps.

Unfortunately, there is no official standard for beep codes. Depending on the BIOS manufacturer, a keyboard controller failure could be three, four, five, or six beeps. While this document lists common BIOS manufacturer beep codes, you should always consult your motherboard's documentation, the manufacturer's Web site, and the BIOS manufacturer's Web site for a definitive beep code list for your particular BIOS. The information contained in the following lists was gathered from various BIOS manufacturers' Web sites.

AMI BIOS beep codes http://www.ami.com/support/bios.html
Number of beeps	Problem description		Troubleshooting recommendation
1	Refresh error		Reseat memory or replace with known good chips.
2	Parity error		Reseat memory or replace with known good chips.
3	Base 64K memory failure		Reseat memory or replace with known good chips.
4	Timer not operational		Repair/replace motherboard.
5	Processor error		Repair/replace motherboard.
6	8042—gate A20 failure		Reseat keyboard controller chip, replace keyboard controller chip, check for a keyboard fuse, or try a different keyboard.
7	Processor exception interrupt error		Repair/replace motherboard.
8	Display memory read/write failure		Replace video card or video card memory.
9	ROM checksum error/Faulty BIOS chips		Replace chips or motherboard.
10	CMOS shutdown register read/write error		Repair/replace motherboard.
11	Cache memory bad
Award BIOS beep codes http://www.phoenix.com/pcuser/awardbios/award_error_codes.html
Number of beeps	Problem description	Troubleshooting recommendation
1 long & 2 short	Video error	Check the video card.
Any other beeps	RAM problem	Reseat the RAM or replace with known good chips.

PhoenixBIOS beep codes http://www.phoenix.com/pcuser/PDF-Files/bios-postcode.pdf
Unfortunately, PhoenixBIOS beep codes are significantly more complicated than other BIOS manufacturers. Instead of a single beep code set, PhoenixBIOS codes consist of a series of beep code sets separated by a short pause. Older Phoenix BIOS Plus and PhoenixBIOS 1.x systems used a series of three sets, while the new PhoenixBIOS 4.x systems use a series of four sets. The codes listed below are only some of the more than 100 codes for the newer PhoenixBIOS 4.x. For a complete list of Phoenix BIOS POST task routines and beep codes, please visit their Web site or review your motherboard's documentation.
Number of beeps	POST routine description/problem	Troubleshooting recommendation
1	One short beep before boot	Normal operation
1-1-1-3	Verify real mode	A problem exists with the CPU and/or motherboard. Check and replace if necessary.
1-1-2-1	Get CPU type	A problem exists with the CPU and/or motherboard. Check and replace if necessary.
1-1-2-3	Initialize system hardware	A problem exists with the motherboard. Check and replace if necessary.
1-1-3-1	Initialize chipset with initial POST values	A problem exists with the motherboard. Check and replace if necessary.
1-1-3-2	Set IN POST flag	A problem exists with the motherboard. Check and replace if necessary.
1-1-3-3	Initialize CPU registers	A problem exists with the CPU and/or motherboard. Check and replace if necessary.
1-1-4-3	Initialize I/O component	A problem exists with the I/O port hardware or a device connected to an I/O port. It could also be an expansion device in the PC or the motherboard.
1-2-2-1	Initialize keyboard controller	An error has occurred with the keyboard or keyboard controller. Try a new keyboard or replace the keyboard controller on the motherboard.
1-2-2-3	BIOS ROM checksum	Replace either the BIOS ROM chip or the motherboard.
1-2-3-3	8237 DMA controller initialization	Check the motherboard and any expansion cards that use DMA.
1-3-1-1	Test DRAM refresh	Check the first bank of memory and the motherboard.
1-3-1-3	Test 8742 keyboard controller	An error has occurred with the keyboard or keyboard controller. Try a new keyboard or replace the keyboard controller on the motherboard.
1-3-4-1	RAM failure on line xxxx	Check the first bank of memory and the motherboard.
1-3-4-3	RAM failure on data bits xxxx of low byte memory bus	Check the first bank of memory and the motherboard.
2-1-3-1	Check video configuration against CMOS	Check the video card or video card memory.
2-1-3-2	Initialize PCI bus and devices	A problem exists with the I/O port hardware or a device connected to an I/O port. It could also be an expansion device in the PC or the motherboard.
2-2-1-3	Test keyboard	An error has occurred with the keyboard or keyboard controller. Try a new keyboard or replace the keyboard controller on the motherboard.
2-2-3-1	Test for unexpected interrupts	Check for a faulty motherboard or expansion card.
3-1-2-1	Detect and install external parallel ports	A problem exists with the I/O port hardware or a device connected to an I/O port. It could also be an expansion device in the PC or the motherboard.
3-1-4-1	Initialize floppy controller	Check your hard drive(s), floppy drive(s), and motherboard.
3-2-1-1	Initialize hard-disk controllers	Check your hard drive(s), floppy drive(s), and motherboard.
3-2-1-2	Initialize local-bus hard-disk controllers	Check your hard drive(s), floppy drive(s), and motherboard.
3-3-1-1	Set time of day	Check the motherboard's real-time clock (RTC).
4-2-4-3	Keyboard controller failure	An error has occurred with the keyboard or keyboard controller. Try a new keyboard or replace the keyboard controller on the motherboard.

Dell BIOS beep codes http://support.dell.com/us/en/home.asp
Because Dell uses motherboards and BIOSs from several manufacturers, their computers use a variety of beep codes. Instead of listing each model's beep codes, links are provided to the support pages of several popular Dell desktops.
Model	System codes and messages link
Dimension 900	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dcaydim2/codemess.htm
Dimension 2100	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dim2100/codemess.htm
Dimension 4100	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dzuul/codemess.htm
Dimension 4200	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dim4200/codes.htm
Dimension 4300	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dim4300/codes.htm
Dimension 4300S	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dim4300s/codes.htm
Dimension 4400	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dim4400/codes.htm
Dimension 8100	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dsleest/codemess.htm
Dimension 8200	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dim8200/codes.htm
Dimension C	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dcaydim/codemess.htm
Dimension L	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dmum/codemess.htm
Dimension Lxxxc	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dcol/codemess.htm
Dimension P133a, P166a, M166a, M200a, and M233a	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dhanplus/post.htm
Dimension XPS Txxx and Txxxr	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dkub/codemess.htm
Dimension Vxxx and Vxxxc	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dwill/post.htm
Dimension XPS B Series	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dmag/codemess.htm
Dimension XPS Dxxx	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dalex/post.htm
Dimension XPS H233 and XPS H266	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dcor/post.htm
Dimension XPS P60 FS	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/dta/xpsp60f/00000015.htm
Dimension XPS P60 M	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/dta/xpsp60m/00000014.htm
Dimension XPS 50/66 FS	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/dta/xps_f/00000021.htm
Dimension XPS 50/66 MDT (V4xxV)	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/dta/xps_m/00000025.htm
Dimension XPS Rxxx	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dkhan/post.htm
OmniPlex 5xx/ME	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/dta/omni5xx/00000051.htm
OptiPlex G1	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/ddur/beep.htm
OptiPlex GC	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/opgc/en/ug/messages.htm
OptiPlex Gn and Gn+	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dthred/beep.htm
OptiPlex GX1	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/ban_gx1/beep.htm
OptiPlex GX1 Small-Form-Factor	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/ban_gx1/en/ug_sdt/messages.htm
OptiPlex GX1p	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/d_gx1p/beep.htm
OptiPlex GXi	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dzer/beep.htm
OptiPlex GX100, GX110, GX200, and GX300	http://support.dell.com/us/en/kb/document.asp?DN=1040268
OptiPlex GX110	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/opgx110/en/ug/messages.htm
OptiPlex GX115	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/opgx115/en/ug/messages.htm
OptiPlex GXa	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dfuj/beep.htm
OptiPlex GXpro	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dstrmlk/postbeep.htm
OptiPlex N	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dkill/beep.htm
OptiPlex NX	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dfujnx/beep.htm
OptiPlex NX1	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/ban_nx1/beep.htm
OptiPlex XMT575/590/5100/5120/5133	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/dta/586xmt/00000038.htm
Precision WorkStation 210	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/daftshk/beep.htm
Precision WorkStation 340	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/ws340/en/ug/codes.htm
Precision WorkStation 400	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dtor/beep.htm
Precision WorkStation 410	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/deqkmt/beep.htm
Precision WorkStation 420	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/ws420/en/ug/messages.htm
Precision WorkStation 530	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/ws530/en/ug/html/2codes.htm
Precision WorkStation 610 Mini Tower	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dvol/beep.htm
Precision WorkStation 620	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/ws620/en/ug/messages.htm
Precision WorkStation 730	http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/ws730/ug/messages.htm

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