What are beep codes?
Updated October 02, 2022
What are beep codes and what does it do?
The type of signal provided by a computer during the boot process is called beep codes. Most beep codes involve self-testing (POST), where beep codes help inform users that there is a hardware problem preventing normal operation.
Beep codes
- ami bios
- award bios
- IBM bios
- Macintosh startup tones
- dell beep code
- hp beep codes
- lenovo beep codes
AMI BIOS beep codes
Below are the AMI BIOS beep codes that can occur. However, because of the wide variety of different computer manufacturers with this BIOS, the beep codes may vary.
|
|
Beep Codes |
Description |
|
01. |
1
short beeps
|
DRAM refresh
failure |
|
02. |
2
short beep beeps |
Parity
circuit failure |
|
03. |
3
short beeping |
Base 64K RAM
failure |
|
04. |
4
short beeping |
System timer
failure |
|
05. |
5
short beeping |
Process
failure |
|
06. |
6
short beeping |
Keyboard
controller Gate A20 error |
|
07. |
7
short beeping |
Virtual mode
exception error |
|
08. |
8
short beeping |
Display
memory Read/Write test failure |
|
09. |
9
short beeping |
ROM BIOS
checksum failure |
|
10. |
10
short beeping |
CMOS
shutdown Read/Write error |
|
11. |
11
short beeping |
Cache Memory
error |
|
12. |
12
Long 3 short beeping |
Conventional/Extended
memory failure |
|
13. |
13 Long
8 short beeping |
Display/Retrace
tests failed |
AWARD BIOS beep codes
Below are Award BIOS beep codes that can occur. However, because of the wide variety of different computer manufacturers with this BIOS, the beep codes may vary.
|
|
Beep Codes |
Description |
|
01. |
1 long, 2
short beeping |
Indicates a
video error has occurred and the BIOS cannot initialize the video. screen to
display any additional information |
|
02. |
Any other
beeps |
RAM problem. |
IBM BIOS beep codes
Below are general IBM BIOS beep codes that can occur. However, because of the wide variety of models shipping with this BIOS, the beep codes may vary.
|
|
Beep Codes |
Description |
|
01. |
No Beeps |
No Power,
Loose Card, or Short. |
|
02. |
1 Short Beep |
Normal POST,
the computer is ok. |
|
03. |
2 Short
Beep Beeps |
POST error,
review screen for error code. |
|
04. |
Continuous
Beeping |
No Power,
Loose Card, or Short. |
|
05. |
Repeating
Short Beeps |
No Power,
Loose Card, or Short. |
|
06. |
One Long and
one Short Beep Beeps |
Motherboard
issue |
|
07. |
One Long and
Two Short Beeps |
Video
(Mono/CGA Display Circuitry) issue. |
|
08. |
One Long and
Three Short Beeps. |
Video Display Circuitry. |
|
09. |
Three Long
Beeps |
Keyboard or
Keyboard card error. |
|
10. |
One Beep, |
Video
Display Circuitry. |
Macintosh startup tones
|
|
Tones |
Error |
|
01. |
Error Tone.
(two sets of different tones) |
Problem with
logic board or SCSI bus. |
|
02. |
Startup
tone, drive spins, no video |
Problem with
video controller. |
|
03. |
Powers on,
no tone. |
Logic board
problem. |
|
04. |
High Tone,
four higher tones. |
Problem with
SIMM. |
- dell beep codes
|
|
Beep Codes |
Description |
|
01. |
1 Beep |
Motherboard: BIOS ROM Failure |
|
02. |
2 Beeps |
No Memory (RAM) Detected |
|
03. |
3 Beeps |
Chipset Error (North and South bridge error), Time-Of-Day Clock test failure, Gate A20 failure, Super I/O chip failure, Keyboard controller failure |
|
04. |
4 Beeps |
Memory (RAM) Failure |
|
05. |
5 Beeps |
CMOS Battery Failure |
|
06. |
6 Beeps |
Video Card/Chip Failure |
|
07. |
7 Beeps |
Central Processing Unit (CPU) Failure |
|
08. |
8 Beeps |
LCD Failure |
- hp beep codes
|
|
Beep Codes |
Description |
|
01. |
1
short beep and 1 long beep |
Memory
problem |
|
02. |
2
short beeps and 1 long beep (repeats 5 times) |
Unable
to initialize video or video card required but not installed |
|
03. |
3
short beeps and 1 long beep |
CPU
configuration error or CPU type is not compatible |
|
04. |
1
short beep |
Legacy
floppy drive or CD/DVD drive not detected |
|
05. |
2
short beeps |
Floppy
diskette or compact disc not detected |
|
06. |
3
short beeps |
Unable
to start flashing (such as when missing a utility or BIOS image) |
|
07. |
4
short beeps |
Flashing
failed (checksum error, corrupted image, etc.) |
|
08. |
5
short beeps |
BIOS
recovery successful |
- lenovo beep codes
|
|
Beep Codes |
Description |
|
01. |
3 Short and 1 Long
Beep |
RAM not detected |
|
02. |
2 Long and 3 Short
Beeps |
Video Card or
On-Board Video not detected |
|
03. |
4 Long Beeps and
Error 8998/8999 on Screen |
Not enough shadow RAM
resources or PCIe/PCI MMIO resources available |
|
04. |
2 Short Beeps |
POST Error |
