DIY Computer Repairs Post Beep Codes Using a Postcard Boot Diagnostic Flowchart

BIOS Beep Codes

AMI Bios Beep Codes

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

Award Bios Beep Codes

BEEP CODE	MEANING	POSSIBLE CAUSE
1 Long, 2 Short	Video adapter failure	Bad video adapter
Repeating (Endless loop)	Memory error	Bad memory or bad connection
1 Long, 3 Short	Video adapter failure	Bad video adapter or memory
High freq. beeps (while running)	CPU is overheating	CPU fan failure
Repeating High, Low beeps	CPU failure	Bad processor

Phoenix Bios Beep Codes

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

DIY Computer Repairs Post Beep Codes Using a Postcard Boot Diagnostic Flowchart