Award BIOS Beep Codes:

Beeps

Error Message

1long, 2
Video adapter error
short
Repeatin
g
(endless
loop)
1long,
3short
High
frequenc
y beeeps
while
running

Description
Either video adapter is bad or is not seated
properly. Also, check to ensure the monitor cable
is connected properly.

Memory error

Check for improperly seated or missing memory.

No video card or bad video

RAM

Reseat or replace the video card.

Overheated CPU

Check the CPU fan for proper operation. Check

the case for proper air flow.
Either the CPU is not seated properly or the CPU
is damaged. May also be due to excess heat.
Check the CPU fan or BIOS settings for proper
fan speed.

Repeatin
g
CPU
High/Low

AMI BIOS Beep Codes:

Beeps

Error Message

1 short

DRAM refresh failure

2 short

Memory parity error

3 short

Base 64K memory failure

4 short

System timer failure

5 short

Processor error

6 short

Gate A20 failure

7 short

Virtual mode processor

exception error

8 short

Display memory read/write

error

Description
The programmable interrupt timer or
programmable interrupt controller has probably
failed
A memory parity error has occurred in the first
64K of RAM. The RAM IC is probably bad
A memory failure has occurred in the first 64K of
RAM. The RAM IC is probably bad
The system clock/timer IC has failed or there is a
memory error in the first bank of memory
The system CPU has failed
The keyboard controller IC has failed, which is
not allowing Gate A20 to switch the processor to
protected mode. Replace the keyboard controller
The CPU has generated an exception error
because of a fault in the CPU or motherboard
circuitry
The system video adapter is missing or defective

9 short

ROM checksum error

CMOS shutdown register

read/write error
11 short Cache error
10 short

1 long, 2
Failure in video system
short
1 long, 3
Memory test failure
short
1 long, 8
Display test failure
short
2 short POST Failure
1 long

The contents of the system BIOS ROM does not

match the expected checksum value. The BIOS
ROM is probably defective and should be
replaced
The shutdown for the CMOS has failed
The L2 cache is faulty
An error was encountered in the video BIOS
ROM, or a horizontal retrace failure has been
encountered
A fault has been detected in memory above
64KB
The video adapter is either missing or defective
One of the hardware testa have failed

POST has passed all tests

AST BIOS Beep Codes:

Beeps
1 short
2 short

Error Message
CPU register test failure
Keyboard controller buffer
failure
Keyboard controller reset
failure

Description
The CPU has failed
The keyboard controller has failed

The keyboard controller has failed or the

motherboard circuitry is faulty
Either the keyboard controller IC or the
Keyboard communication associated circuitry has failed. replace the
4 short
failure
keyboard first, then is still faulty, replace the
keyboard controller IC
The keyboard controller IC has failed.
5 short Keyboard input failure
Replace the IC
System board chipset
The chipset on the motherboard has failed.
6 short
failure
Replace the motherboard
The BIOS ROM has failed. If possible, replace
9 short BIOS ROM checksum error
the BIOS on the motherboard
10 short System timer test failure The system clock IC has failed
Motherboard circuitry has failed. Replace the
11 short ASIC failure
motherboard
CMOS RAM shutdown
THE real time clock/CMOS IC failed. Replace
12 short
register failure
the CMOS or motherboard
The DMA controller IC for channel 0 has
1 long DMA controller 0 failure
failed. If possible, replace the IC
1 long, 1
The DMA controller IC for channel 1 has
DMA controller 1 failure
short
failed. If possible, replace the IC
1 long, 2 Video vertical retrace
The video adapter has probably failed.
short
failure
Replace the video adapter
3 short

1 long,
short
1 long,
short
1 long,
short
1 long,
short

3
4
5

Video memory test failure

Video adapter failure
64KB memory failure

6 Unable to load interrupt

vectors

1 long, 7
Unable to initialize video
short
1 long, 8
Video memory failure
short

The video adapter's memory has failed.

Replace the video adapter
The video adapter has failed. Replace the
video adapter
A failure has occurred in the base 64KB of
memory. If possible, replace the RAM IC
The BIOS was unable to load the interrupt
vectors into memory
This a video problem. Replace the video
adapter first. If problem is still present,
replace the motherboard
The is a failure in the video memory. Replace
the video adapter first. If problem is still
present, replace the motherboard

Compaq BIOS Beep Codes:

Beeps

Error Message

1 short

No error

1 long, 1
short

BIOS ROM checksum error

2 short
General error
1 long, 2
Video error
short
7 beeps (1
long, 1s,
1l, 1 short,
pause, 1 AGP video
long, 1
short, 1
short

Description
System is booting properly
The contents of the BIOS ROM to not match the
expected contents. If possible, reload the BIOS
from the PAQ
Unknown
Check the video adapter and ensure it's seated
properly. If possible, replace the video adapter

The AGP video card is faulty. Reseat the card or

replace it outright. This beep pertains to
Compaq Deskpro systems

1 long
neverendi
ng beep

Memory error. Bad RAM. Replace and test

1 short, 2
Bad RAM
long

Reseat RAM then retest; replace RAM if failure

continues

IBM Desktop BIOS Beep Codes:

Beeps
1 short
2 short

Error Message
Normal POST
Initialization error

Description
System is booting properly
Error code is displayed

1 long, 1
System board error
short
1 long, 2
Video adapter error
short
1 long, 3
EGA/VGA adapter error
short
3 long

3270 keyboard adapter error

Continuo
Power supply error
us
999s
Power supply error
No beep Power supply

Replace the power supply

Replace the power supply
Replace the power supply

IBM Thinkpad BIOS Beep Codes:

Beeps/Error

Description

Continuous beeping
One beep; Unreadable, blank or flashing
LCD

System board failure

LCD connector problem; LCD backlight
inverter failure; video adapter faulty; LCD
assembly faulty; System board failure;
power supply failure

One beep; Message "Unable to access boot

Boot device failure; system board failure
source"
System board failure; Video adapter
One long, two short beeps
problem; LCD assembly failure
One long, four short beeps
Low battery voltage
One beep every second
Low battery voltage
Two short beeps with error codes
POST error message
Two short beeps
System board failure

Mylex BIOS Beep Codes:

Beeps

Error Message

Normal boot

Video adapter error

Keyboard controller error

Keyboard error

PIC 0 error

PIC 1 error

Description
System is booting normally
The video adapter is either faulty or not seated
properly. Check the adapter
The keyboard controller IC is faulty. Replace the
IC if possible
The keyboard controller IC is faulty or the
keyboard is faulty. Replace the keyboard, if
problem still persists, replace the keyboard
controller IC
The programmable interrupt controller is faulty.
Replace the IC if possible
The programmable interrupt controller is faulty.
replace the IC if possible

DMA page register error

RAM refresh error

RAM data error

10

RAM parity error

11
12
13

DMA controller 0 error

CMOS RAM error
DMA controller 1 error

14
15
16

The DMA controller IC is faulty. Replace the IC if

possible

The DMA controller IC for channel 0 has failed

The CMOS RAM has failed
The DMA controller IC for channel 1 has failed
The CMOS RAM battery has failed. If possible,
CMOS RAM battery error
replace the CMOS or battery
The CMOS RAM has failed. If possible, replace
CMOS RAM checksum error
the CMOS
The BIOS ROM has failed. If possible replace the
BIOS ROM checksum error
BIOS or upgrade it

Mylex 386 BIOS Beep Codes:

Beeps

Error Message

1 long

Normal boot

2 long

Video adapter failure

1 long, 1
short, 1
long
1 long, 2
short, 1
long
1 long, 3
short, 1
long
1 long 4
short, 1
long
1 long, 5
short, 1
long
1 long, 6
short, 1
long
1 long, 7
short, 1
long
1 long, 8
short, 1
long
1 long, 9
short, 1
long

Description
System is booting normally
Either the video adapter is faulty, not seated
properly or is missing

Keyboard controller error

Either the keyboard controller IC is faulty or the

system board circuitry is faulty

Keyboard error

Either the keyboard controller is faulty or the

system board circuitry is faulty

PIC 0 error

The programmable interrupt controller IC is

faulty

PIC 1 error

The programmable interrupt controller IC is

faulty

DMA page register error

The DMA controller IC 1 or 2 is faulty or the

system board circuitry is faulty

RAM refresh error

RAM data error

RAM parity error

DMA controller 1 error

The DMA controller for channel 0 is faulty or the

system board circuitry is faulty

1 long, 10
short, 1
long
1 long, 11
short, 1
long
1 long, 12
short, 1
long
1 long, 13
short, 1
long
1 long 14
short, 1
long

CMOS RAM error

Either the CMOS RAM is faulty. Replace the

CMOS

DMA controller 2 error

The DMA controller for channel 1 is faulty or the

system board circuitry is faulty

CMOS RAM battery error

The CMOS RAM battery is faulty or the CMOS

RAM is bad. Replace the battery if possible

CMOS checksum error

The CMOS RAM is faulty

BIOS ROM checksum

failure

The BIOS ROM checksum is faulty. Replace the

BIOS or upgrade

Quadtel BIOS Beep Codes:

Beeps
1 short
2 short
1 long, 2
short
1 long,
3short

Error Messages

Description

Normal boot

System is booting normally

The CMOS RAM is faulty. Replace the IC if
CMOS IC error
possible
The video adapter is faulty. Reseat the video
Video failure
adapter or replace the adapter if possible
One or more of the system peripheral controllers
Peripheral controller error
is bad. Replace the controllers and retest