PC Troubleshooting using Computer Beep Codes

Different motherboard manufactures use different beep codes to diagnose problems. You can use these codes to diagnose why your computer may not be starting. If you don’t know your motherboard manufacturer you can look at your screen when it first starts and it should tell you or you can try using the standard IBM codes. Here are the most common codes.

Phoenix BIOS Beep Codes:

BEEP CODE	WHAT IT MEANS	POSSIBLE CAUSE
1 – 1 – 2	CPU / motherboard failure	Defective CPU / motherboard
1 – 1 – 3	CMOS read/write failure	Defective motherboard
1 – 1 – 4	BIOS ROM failure	Defective BIOS chip
1 – 2 – 1	Timer failure	Defective motherboard
1 – 2 – 2	DMA failure	Defective motherboard
1 – 2 – 3	DMA failure	Defective motherboard
1 – 3 – 1	Memory refresh failure	Defective memory
1 – 3 – 2	64K memory failure	Defective memory
1 – 3 – 3	64K memory failure	Defective memory
1 – 3 – 4	64K memory failure	Defective memory
1 – 4 – 1	Address line failure	Defective memory
1 – 4 – 2	Parity error	Defective memory
1 – 4 – 3	Timer failure	Defective motherboard
1 – 4 – 4	NMI port failure	Defective motherboard
2 – 1 – 1	64K memory failure	Defective memory
2 – 1 – 2	64K memory failure	Defective memory
2 – 1 – 3	64K memory failure	Defective memory
2 – 1 – 4	64K memory failure	Defective memory
2 – 2 – 1	64K memory failure	Defective memory
2 – 2 – 2	64K memory failure	Defective memory
2 – 2 – 3	64K memory failure	Defective memory
2 – 2 – 4	64K memory failure	Defective memory
2 – 3 – 1	64K memory failure	Defective memory
2 – 3 – 2	64K memory failure	Defective memory
2 – 3 – 3	64K memory failure	Defective memory
2 – 3 – 4	64K memory failure	Defective memory
2 – 4 – 1	64K memory failure	Defective memory
2 – 4 – 2	64K memory failure	Defective memory
2 – 4 – 4	64K memory failure	Defective memory
2 – 4 – 4	64K memory failure	Defective memory
3 – 1 – 1	Slave DMA failure	Defective motherboard
3 – 1 – 2	Master DMA failure	Defective motherboard
3 – 1 – 3	Interrupt controller failure	Defective motherboard
3 – 1 -4	Slave IC failure	Defective motherboard
3 – 2 -2	Interrupt Controller failure	Defective motherboard
3 – 2 – 3	<RESERVED>
3 – 2 – 4	Keyboard control failure	Defective motherboard
3 – 3 – 1	CMOS batter failure	Defective CMOS battery
3 – 3 – 2	CMOS configuration error	Incorrect setting
3 – 3 – 3	<RESERVED>
3 – 3 – 4	Video memory failure	Defective video card or memory
3 – 4 – 1	Video init failure	Defective video card or memory
4 – 2 – 1	Timer failure	Defective motherboard
4 – 2 – 2	CMOS shutdown failure	Defective motherboard
4 – 2 – 3	Gate A20 failure	Defective motherboard
4 – 2 – 4	Unexpected interrupt	Defective processor
4 – 3 – 1	RAM test failure	Defective memory
4 – 3 – 3	Timer failure	Defective motherboard
4 – 3 – 4	RTC failure	Defective motherboard
4 – 4 – 1	Serial port failure	Defective motherboard
4 – 4 – 2	Parallel port failure	Defective motherboard
4 – 4 – 3	Coprocessor failure	Defective motherboard or CPU.
9 – 2 – 1	Video adapter incompatibility	Use a different brand of video card

AMI BIOS Beep Codes

BEEP CODE	WHAT IT MEANS	POSSIBLE CAUSE
1 Beep (No video)	Memory refresh failure	Defective memory
2 Beeps	Memory parity error	Defective memory
3 Beeps	Base 64K memory failure	Defective memory
4 Beeps	Timer not operational	Defective motherboard
5 Beeps	Processor error	Defective processor
6 Beeps	8042 Gate A20 failure	Defective CPU or Motherboard
7 Beeps	Processor exception	Defective processor
8 Beeps	Video memory error	Defective video card or memory
9 Beeps	ROM checksum error	Defective BIOS
10 Beeps	CMOS checksum error	Defective motherboard
11 Beeps	Cache memory Defective	Defective CPU or motherboard

Award BIOS Beep Codes:

BEEP CODE	WHAT IT MEANS	POSSIBLE CAUSE
1 Long, 2 Short	Video adapter failure	Defective video adapter
Repeating	Memory error	Defective memory
1 Long, 3 Short	Video adapter failure	Defective video adapter or memory
High freq. beeps	CPU is overheating	CPU fan failure
Repeating High, Low beeps	CPU failure	Defective processor

Standard IBM Post Beep Codes:

BEEP CODE	WHAT IT MEANS	POSSIBLE CAUSE
1 Beep (No video present)	Normal POST
2 Beeps	POST Error – code shown on screen
0 Beeps	Defective power supply or system board	Defective power supply or system board
Continuous Beeps	Defective power supply, system board, or keyboard	Defective power supply, system board, or keyboard
Repeating Beeps	Defective power supply or system board	Defective power supply or system board
1 Long, 1 short Beep	Defective system board	Defective system board
1 Long, 2 short Beeps	Defective display adapter	Defective display adapter
1 Long, 3 short Beeps	Defective display adapter	Defective display adapter
3 Long Beeps	3270 keyboard card	3270 keyboard card