Sound self-diagnosis of the computer when turned on. reference Information

Sound self-diagnosis of the computer when turned on

Background

Each time the computer is turned on, the POST (Power-On-Self-Test) diagnostic program, which is "written" in the BIOS ROM, automatically runs.

POST checks all the most important computer components: it checks the health of the processor, CMOS, motherboard supporting chips, and also conducts a quick test of RAM. Information about how the computer diagnostics went is displayed on the computer speaker in the form of a special sound signal.

If the computer is operating normally, that is, the POST diagnostic program completed successfully, you will hear one short beep, after which the computer's operating system will start loading.

When an inoperative computer component is detected, the POST diagnostic program generates a special sound signal (a sequence of short and long beeps) characterizing the detected error, and the computer stops working.

If the computer issued a sequence of short and long beeps and stopped working, you need to count the number of beeps for their subsequent analysis. You can turn off your computer, wait about 30 seconds, and turn it back on. After counting the beeps, find your combination of beeps in the table corresponding to the BIOS of your computer. In the tables that are given on this page, you will find the decoding of sound signals. Thus, even without special diagnostic tools, it is possible to localize a malfunction of a personal computer.

Since the contents of the IBM BIOS ROM were copyrighted (that is, they could not be copied by other companies), most other computer manufacturers were forced to use third-party BIOS ROMs. These third-party BIOSes were almost completely compatible with the IBM BIOS, however, each independent BIOS manufacturer has its own audio encoding for the POST diagnostic program, which does not match the IBM BIOS audio encoding.

Table 1. Meaning of IBM BIOS beeps

Sound signal type	Beep Meaning
One short	Normal completion of POST, everything is OK
No	Faulty power supply
Continuous	Faulty power supply
Repetitive short	Faulty power supply
One long and one short	Faulty motherboard
One beep and a blank screen	Faulty video system
One long and two short	Faulty video system (Mono/CGA)
One long and three short	Faulty video system (EGA/VGA)
Two short	Faulty video system (no monitor connected)
Three long	Faulty motherboard (keyboard controller error)

Table 2. Meaning of AWARD BIOS beeps

Sound signal type	Beep Meaning
One short	Normal completion of POST, everything is OK
No	Faulty power supply
One beep and a blank screen	Faulty video system
One long and two short	Faulty video system
One long and three short	Monitor not connected
Two short	Any minor error
Three long	Faulty motherboard (keyboard controller error)

Table 3. Meaning of AMI BIOS beeps

Sound signal type	Beep Meaning
One short	Normal completion of POST, everything is OK
Two short	RAM test error
Three short	RAM test error
Four short	Faulty motherboard (system timer error)
five short	Processor is faulty
six short	Faulty motherboard (keyboard controller error)
seven short	Faulty motherboard (virtual mode error)
eight short	Faulty video adapter or video memory test error
Nine short	BIOS ROM checksum error
ten short	CMOS write/read error
Eleven short	Faulty motherboard (cache test error)
One long and three short	Faulty motherboard (extended memory error)
One long and eight short	Monitor test error

Table 4 Phoenix BIOS Beep Meaning

Sound signal type	Beep Meaning
1 - 1 - 3	CMOS write/read error
1 - 1 - 4	BIOS ROM checksum error
1 - 2 - 1	Faulty motherboard (system timer error)
1 - 2 - x	Faulty motherboard
1 - 3 - x	Faulty motherboard
1 - 4 - 1	Faulty motherboard
1 - 4 - 2	RAM test error
1 - 4 - 3	Faulty motherboard (system timer error)
1 - 4 - 4	Error while accessing the port
2 - x - x	RAM test error (any combination starting with two beeps)
3 - 1 - x	RAM test error
3 - 1 - 4	Faulty motherboard
3 - 2 - 4	Faulty keyboard controller
3 - 3 - 4	Faulty video adapter or video memory test error
3 - 4 - x	Faulty video system
4 - 2 - x	Faulty motherboard
4 - 3 - x	Faulty motherboard
4 - 3 - 4	Faulty motherboard (real time clock error)
4 - 4 - 1	Serial Port Test Error
4 - 4 - 2	Parallel port test error
4 - 4 - 3	Math coprocessor test error

Note: x - any number from 1 to 4, if such a combination of numbers is not explicitly available.

Table 5. Overview of BIOS Setup error messages for self-diagnosing the computer

BIOS messages	Malfunction
CMOS BATTERY HAS FAILED	The battery discharged. Change the battery on the motherboard
CMOS CHECKSUM ERROR	Incorrect CMOS checksum. Data in CMOS is corrupted. Perhaps the battery is dead. Check the battery and replace it if necessary
DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISC AND PRESS ENTER	Boot disk not found. Boot from the system floppy and check the system files on the hard drive. You may have inserted a floppy disk that is not a system disk. Remove floppy disk from drive
DISKETTE DRIVES OR TYPES MISMATCH ERROR - RUN SETUP	The types of drives actually installed in the system and their descriptions in BIOS Setup (BIOS setup program) converge. Run BIOS Setup and enter the correct drive type
ERROR INITIALIZING HARD DRIVE CONTROLLER	The hard drive controller is not initializing. Check the controller installation, and the hard drive settings specified in the BIOS Setup. Also check the jumpers (jumpers, switches or more often jumpers) on the hard drive
FLOPPY DISK CNTRLR ERROR OR NO CNTRLR PRESENT	Unable to initialize floppy disk controller. Check controller installation and drive settings specified in BIOS Setup
KEYBOARD ERROR OR NO KEYBOARD PRESENT	Unable to initialize keyboard. Check keyboard connection and type. As a last resort, disable keyboard control when loading BIOS Setup
Memory Address Error at XXXX	Memory error. Replace memory (RAM)
Memory parity error at XXXX	Parity error. Replace memory (RAM)
MEMORY SIZE HAS CHANGED SINCE LAST BOOT	The memory size has changed since the last boot. Enter SETUP
PRESS A KEY TO REBOOT	The message occurs when errors are detected and a reboot is required. Press any key
SYSTEM HALTED, (CTRL-ALT-DEL) TO REBOOT	Indicates that the download process has stopped. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del

Table 6. Sound self-diagnostics of old motherboards

Faulty PSU	No signals
Faulty motherboard	Continuous signals or no signals
RAM refresh error	1 short
RAM parity error	2 short
Error ml. 64 KB RAM	3 short
System timer error	4 short
Processor error	5 short
Control error A20	6 short
Virtual mode error	7 short
Video memory error	8 short
CRC ROM BIOS error	9 short
CMOS error	10 short
Cache error	11 short

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