Bios+Beeps+2

Bios Beeps

BIOS and boot. Sort out a number of problems before you even enter Windows.

If your PC wonʹt start properly and fails to show a display, there are ways to diagnose the problem.

First, you can try the BIOS beep codes.

The speaker will sound a number of times to indicate the possible problem.

However, if beeps give you little joy, you may need to test every component.

Strip back the PC to its most basic parts, and then test each to find out if each is working.

This should help you isolate and replace the faulty item.

The BIOS is the software that controls the hardware in your system.

Bugs in the BIOS can cause instability or mean that your PC doesnʹt perform as well as it could.

You can fix some problems by altering the BIOS settings or by updating the BIOS software.

Flashing approach

To update your BIOS by ʹflashingʹ it, start by identifying it correctly.

Use your motherboard manual to find out its model number.

BIOSʹs are motherboard specific, so flashing the wrong file will render your motherboard useless.

The best way to confirm your motherboard details is to use the motherboard BIOS ID string that appears during the boot process.

To get time to scribble it down, unplug your keyboard so the boot process stops with a keyboard error. or press PAUSE.

The BIOS ID is usually located on the bottom left of the screen.

Visit here Motherboards and enter the ID string into the search engine to find and see the details.

Now go to your motherboard manufacturerʹs web site.

You should find BIOS updates, if available posted on the Support or Downloads section.

Find and open any Readme or instruction files.

Read the instructions and heed all warnings.

Cock this up and you can end up having to throw away a motherboard.

Decipher BIOS beep codes…

__**AWARD BIOS**__

1 long beep – A memory problem: Remove and reseat memory module(s).

1 long, 2 short or – Video card problem or problems with its memory,

1 long, 3 short ‐ replace the graphic card or its memory.

Continuous beep – A memory and or video problems. Reseat or replace memory and/or graphic card.


 * __PHOENIX BIOS__**

1, 1, 3 ‐ CMOS unreadable. Replace the motherboard.

1, 1, 4 ‐ BIOS failure. Replace the BIOS.

1, 2, 1 – The timer chip has failed. Replace the motherboard.

1, 2, 2 or 1, 2, 3 or 1, 3, 1 or1, 3, 3 or 1, 3, 4 or 1, 4, 1 or 4, 2, 1 or 4, 3, 1 or 4, 3, 2 or 4, 3, 3 –

Motherboard error. Replace motherboard.

1, 3, 3 – Memory problems. Try reseating or replacing RAM.

1, 4, 2 – Faulty memory. Test and replace your RAM.

2, any, any – Any beeps after two indicates bad memory. Run a memory checking utility

and replace RAM as necessary.

3, 1, any – Your motherboard has a faulty chip. Replace it.

3, 2, 4 – Keyboard controller error. Replace the keyboard controller chip, or the motherboard to correct it.

3, 3, 4 – No video card. Try reseating it or replacing it.

4, 2, 2 or 4, 2, 3 – Replace the keyboard. If this persists, it’s a motherboard problem. Replace the motherboard.

4, 2, 4 – Remove and replace all PCI cards one by one to find the faulty one, then replace it.

4, 3, 4 ‐ Clock error. Reset the motherboard clock using its set‐up program. Replace the CMOS battery if necessary. If this fails, replace the power supply.

4, 4, 1 or 4, 4, 2 – Use the motherboard manual to disable the serial ports and add a I/O card to replace them.

4, 4, 3 – Maths co‐processor malfunctioning. Use a low‐level diagnostic program to confirm this, then disable it.

__**AMI BIOS**__

None – Faulty speaker, broken motherboard or PSU problem

1 short beep – RAM refresh, interrupt timer or interrupt controller failure. Replace motherboard.

2 short beeps or – Indicate memory problem. Check the seating of memory chips or

3 short beeps ‐ replace the memory.

4 short beeps – System timer failure. Replace the motherboard.

5 short beeps – CPU failure.

6 short beeps – Keyboard control chip error. Replace keyboard. If it persists, chip may need to be replaced/re‐seated.

7 short beeps – CPU exception error. Replace CPU and/or motherboard.

8 short beeps – Video card failure. Reseat/replace the graphic card.

9 short beeps – ROM checksum error. BIOS ROM is bad ‐ replace it.

10 short beeps – Problem with CMOS. Replace the motherboard.

11 short beeps – L2 cache memory failure. Replace the L2 cache memory.

1 long, 3 short – Memory test failure in RAM over the first 64k.

1 long, 8short – Display test error. Missing or broken video card