Thanks
to Transcend Technical Support for this great Brief of understanding
beep codes that is
found here
This is a long post and it may be truncated at the
bottom. If so, use the link above to go to the Transcend web site
where these are found
1.General
POST (initial system boot) BEEP Codes
If you do not know the BIOS manufacturer, the following
will be the general Beep codes:
• 1 Long and 1 Short Beep ?Bad Motherboard
• 1
Short Beep and nothing else happens ?Disk Drive/Video Related
Problems
• 1 Long and 2 Short Beeps ?Bad Video Card
• 1
Continuous Beep or Non-stop short Beeps ?Bad Power Supply
• 3
Short Beeps - Bad Memory
2.American
Megatrends Inc. (AMI) BEEP Codes
•
1 Beep - Memory refresh timer error.
Reseat the memory, or replace
with known good modules.
• 2 Beeps - Parity Error
Reseat the
memory, or replace with known good modules.
• 3 Beeps - Main
memory read / write test error.
Reseat the memory, or replace with
known good modules.
• 4 Beeps - Motherboard timer not
operational
• 5 Beeps - Processor Errors
• 6 Beeps -
Keyboard controller BAT test error.
• 7 Beeps - General
exception error.
• 8 Beeps - Display memory error.
If the
system video adapter is an add-in card, replace or reseat the video
adapter. If the video adapter is an integrated part of the system
board, the board may be faulty.
• 9 Beeps - ROM checksum error
•
10 Beeps - CMOS shutdown register read/write error
• 11 Beeps -
Cache Memory Bad
Beeps 4-7, 9-11
Fatal error indicating a serious
problem with the system. Consult your system manufacturer.
Before declaring the motherboard beyond all hope,
eliminate the possibility of interference by a malfunctioning add-in
card. Remove all expansion cards except the video adapter.
?If the
beep codes are generated even when all other expansion cards are
absent, the motherboard has a serious problem. Consult your system
manufacturer.
?If the beep codes are not generated when all other
expansion cards are absent, one of the add-in cards is causing the
malfunction. Insert the cards back into the system one at a time
until the problem happens again. This will reveal the malfunctioning
add-in card.
3.Award
Bios BEEP Codes
•
1 Long Beep:
Memory problem
Explanation: There is a failure of some sort
related to the system memory.
Diagnosis: The first bank of memory
probably has a failure of some sort; this is usually just a physical
problem such as an incorrectly inserted module, but may also mean a
bad memory chip in a module. It is possible that there is a failure
related to the motherboard or a system device as well.
• 1 Long, then 2 Short Beeps: Video error
Explanation:
The BIOS is unable to access the video system in order to write any
error messages to the screen.
Diagnosis: This is usually caused
by a problem with the video card, or the memory on the video card. It
can also be a motherboard issue.
• 1 Long, then 3 Short Beeps: Video error
Explanation:
The BIOS is unable to access the video system in order to write any
error messages to the screen.
Diagnosis: This is usually caused
by a problem with the video card, or the memory on the video card. It
can also be a motherboard issue.
• Continuous Beeping: Memory or video
problem
Explanation: The system is producing constant beeping in
no specific pattern, or a fast "ringing" sound.
Diagnosis:
This is usually caused by a problem with the system memory, or
possibly the video card. The memory is more likely--the system
complains long and loud if it can't find any usable memory, as there
is no way to even start the boot process when this is the case. The
motherboard itself could also be the problem.
• Other Beep Codes
Explanation: You have
encountered an Award BIOS beep code I do not have documented.
Diagnosis: Award says that any beep patterns other than "one
long followed by two short" are likely problems with the system
memory. However, of late they have started adding other beep codes to
their systems as well.
4.Phoenix
BEEP Codes
•
1-1-3
Explanation: Your computer can't read the configuration
information stored in the CMOS.
Diagnosis: Replace the
motherboard.
• 1-1-4
Explanation: Your BIOS needs to be
replaced.
Diagnosis: Got to your motherboard manufacturers web
site and download the new Bios.
• 1-2-1
Explanation: You have a bad timer chip on
the motherboard.
Diagnosis: Replace the motherboard.
• 1-2-2 or 1-2-3 or 1-3-1 or 1-3-3 or 1-3-4 or 1-4-1
Explanation: Motherboards is bad.
Diagnosis: Replace the
motherboard.
• 1-4-2
Explanation: Some of your memory is
bad.
Diagnosis: Go to Basic Trouble Shooting
• 1-3-1
Explanation: Motherboards is
bad.
Diagnosis: Replace the motherboard.
• 2-_-_ Any combination of beeps after
two
Explanation: Some of your memory might be bad.
Diagnosis:
Go to Basic Trouble Shooting
• 3-1-_
Explanation: One of the chips on your
motherboard is broken.
Diagnosis: Replace the motherboard.
• 3-2-4
Explanation: Keyboard controller
failure.
Diagnosis:
• 3-3-4
Explanation: Your computer can't find the
video card.
Diagnosis: Is it there? If so, try swapping it with
another one and see if it works.
• 3-4-_
Explanation: Your video card isn't
working.
Diagnosis: Replace Video Card.
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