PC beeps: Meaning of the error messages when booting

AMI-BIOS - Acoustic error codes

A long beep at startup means that everything is OK with the AMI BIOS and that the operating system can now start without errors. A continuous beep at the start indicates an error in the power supply. However, before you buy a new one, switch off the computer and restart your PC.

• If your computer beeps briefly when booting with an AMI BIOS, a RAM is either not sitting correctly in its bank, modules are not sitting together in pairs, or a RAM is defective. Therefore, in this case you should first check whether the RAM is firmly locked in the slot, i.e. that it is seated correctly.
• Twice or three times briefly, this indicates a parity error in the first 64 kilobytes of memory. That is, one of the hardware test routines is faulty. Check the RAM.
• Four times briefly also indicates errors in the first 64 kilobytes of memory. Either the BIOS battery is defective or you need a new mainboard. But also check the RAM settings.
• If it beeps five times, there is a defect in the processor. This can be due to insufficient cooling or the processor is overclocked.
• Six times briefly : This tone sequence denotes a gate A2O error. A defective keyboard is usually the cause of the error message. In this case, try a different keyboard on the computer.
• If it beeps briefly seven times, this tells you that the processor is producing an exception interrupt. Either there is a contact problem with the socket or the processor is overclocked.
• Eight times briefly indicates that the BIOS cannot find the graphics card. Either it is not properly seated in the slot or it is defective. If this error message comes up, the same procedure applies as for RAM. Check that the graphics card is seated correctly and that it is firmly seated in the slot.
• Briefly nine times indicates a ROM-BIOS checksum error. The BIOS may be broken or not properly updated.
• Short ten times means that CMOS cannot be read. The main board is defective, only the exchange remains.
• If the computer emits eleven short tones in a row at startup, it wants to tell you that there is a checksum error. That sounds worse than it is. It means the CMOS battery is empty. All adjusted settings for the start are stored in the CMOS memory. If the battery is empty, you either have to make laborious changes to the BIOS settings each time you start it, or simply change the CMOS battery.
• Three times short, three times long, three times short : you only have to replace the working memory because it is defective.
• Once long, once briefly : This error message indicates a serious error on the mainboard. For example, this could be an incorrect clock rate of the CPU.
• One long, two short : the PC cannot find the graphics card. Check whether this has been used correctly.

Award BIOS and its error messages

If you have an award BIOS, it should beep briefly when starting. If so, everything is fine. A continuous tone or a short, repeated tone means an error in the main board supply. Mostly it is the memory or the graphics.

• Twice briefly : There is a video error. How to proceed with this message is shown on the screen.
• Once long, once briefly : The RAM is defective or does not sit properly in the socket.
• Once long, twice short : This sequence of tones tells you that the graphics card is either defective or maybe just not sitting properly.
• Once long, three times short or three times long : something is wrong with the keyboard. Either there is a defect or it is simply not connected properly.

Phoenix BIOS and what its beeps tell you

The messages from the Phoenix-Bio are not combinations of short and long tones, but only as short, interrupted intervals.

• 1-1-3 : A CMOS read / write error. You should run the BIOS Setup to remedy this.
• 1-1-4 : In the event of a BIOS checksum error, you can either replace the BIOS or update it.
• 1-2-1; 1-2-2; 1-2-3 : If you hear one of these tone sequences, the DMA controller or the system timer is defective. You need a new board.
• 1-3-3; 1-3-4; 1-4-1; 1-4-2 : Check whether the RAM is seated correctly and is locked in the slot.
• 3-1-1; 3-1-2; 3-1-3; 3-1-4 : These beeps must all be interpreted as defects in different registers. All you have to do is install a new motherboard.
• 3-2-4 : The keyboard controller reports a defect. You may also need to replace the board here.
• 3-3-4; 3-4-1; 3-4-2 : These orders are related to the graphics card. Either there is a defect on the card or the graphics memory. Another possibility: you have not connected the cable correctly.
• 4-2-1; 4-2-2; 4-2-3; 4-2-4 : There are problems with the timer interrupt, the shutdown function, an error in gate A20 or an unexpected interrupt in protected mode. Here, too, you only have to replace the board to solve the problem.
• 4-3-1 : The PC reports a DRAM error. Check that the DRAM is seated correctly.
• 4-3-2; 4-3-4 : In this case, either the timer is broken or there was a problem testing the real-time clock. In any case, the PC wants to tell you that you need a new board.
• 4-4-1 : A serial interface did not pass the test. You can turn it off in the BIOS and install an interface card
• 4-4-2 : A parallel interface failed the test. In this case too, you only have to switch off the BIOS and install an interface card.
• 4-4-3 : This error message means the failed test of a co-processor. Replace it when it is socketed.