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Computer POST / beep codes

Article by www.computerhope.com

Quick links
POST ABCs
The steps of a POST
AMI BIOS beep codes
Award BIOS beep codes
IBM BIOS beep codes
Macintosh startup tones
Phoenix BIOS beep codes
POST ABCs
The computer POST (Power On Self Test) tests the computer, insuring that it
meets the necessary system requirements and that all hardware is working
properly before starting the remainder of the boot process. If the computer
passes the POST the computer will have a single beep (with some computer BIOS
manufacturers it may beep twice) as the computer starts and the computer will
continue to start normally. However, if the computer fails the POST, the
computer will either not beep at all or will generate a beep code, which tells the
user the source of the problem.
The steps of a POST
Each time the computer boots up the computer must past the POST. Below is the
common steps a POST performs each time your computer starts.
1. Test the power supply to ensure that it is turned on and that it releases its
reset signal.
2. CPU must exit the reset status mode and thereafter be able to execute
instructions.
3. BIOS checksum must be valid, meaning that it must be readable.
4. CMOS checksum must be valid, meaning that it must be readable.
5. CPU must be able to read all forms of memory such as the memory
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controller, memory bus, and memory module.

6. The first 64KB of memory must be operational and have the capability to
be read and written to and from, and capable of containing the POST code.
7. I/O bus / controller must be accessible.
8. I/O bus must be able to write / read from the video subsystem and be able
to read all video RAM.
If the computer does not pass any of the above tests, your computer will receive
an irregular POST. An irregular POST is a beep code that is different from the
standard one or two beeps. This could be either no beeps at all or a combination
of different beeps indicating what is causing the computer not to past the POST.
If you're receiving an irregular POST document CH000607 on
www.compuerhope.com contains all the steps a user can do to resolve the issue
or help determine what hardware has failed in the computer so it can be
replaced. If you're getting a beep code the remainder of this page contains a
listing of each of the major manufacturers beep codes and what they each mean.
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.
Documents below will transfer you to www.computerhope.com the authors of this
article
Beep Code

Descriptions

Document

1 short

DRAM refresh failure

CH000996

2 short

Parity circuit failure

CH000607

3 short

Base 64K RAM failure

CH000996

4 short

System timer failure

CH000607

5 short

Process failure

CH000607

6 short

Keyboard controller Gate A20 error

CH000383

7 short

Virtual mode exception error

CH000607

8 short

Display memory Read/Write test failure

CH000607

9 short

ROM BIOS checksum failure

CH000607

10 short

CMOS shutdown Read/Write error

CH000239

11 short

Cache Memory error

CH000607

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1 long, 3 short

Conventional/Extended memory failure

CH000996

1 long, 8 short

Display/Retrace test failed

CH000607

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 Code

Description

Document

1 long, 2
short

Indicates a video error has occurred and the BIOS cannot

initialize the video screen to display any additional
information

CH000607

Any other
beep(s)

RAM problem.

CH000996

If any other correctable hardware issues, the BIOS will display a message.
IBM BIOS beep codes
Below are 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 Code

Description

Document

No Beeps

No Power, Loose Card, or Short.

1 Short Beep

Normal POST, computer is ok.

2 Short Beep

POST error, review screen for error

code.

See screen

Continuous Beep

No Power, Loose Card, or Short.

CH000607

Repeating Short Beep

No Power, Loose Card, or Short.

CH000607

One Long and one Short Beep

Motherboard issue.

CH000607

One Long and Two Short Beeps

Video (Mono/CGA Display Circuitry)

issue.

CH000607

One Long and Three Short

Beeps.

Video (EGA) Display Circuitry.

CH000607

Three Long Beeps

Keyboard / Keyboard card error.

CH000304

CH000312
No
problem

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One Beep, Blank or Incorrect

Display

Video Display Circuitry.

CH000607

Macintosh startup tones

Tones

Error

Error Tone. (two sets of different tones)

Problem with logic board or SCSI bus.

Startup tone, drive spins, no video

Problem with video controller.

Powers on, no tone.

Logic board problem.

High Tone, four higher tones.

Problem with SIMM.

Phoenix BIOS beep codes

Below are the beep codes for PHOENIX BIOS Q3.07 OR 4.X
Beep Code

Description / What to Check

1-1-1-3

Verify Real Mode.

1-1-2-1

Get CPU type.

1-1-2-3

Initialize system hardware.

1-1-3-1

Initialize chipset registers with initial POST values.

1-1-3-2

Set in POST flag.

1-1-3-3

Initialize CPU registers.

1-1-4-1

Initialize cache to initial POST values.

1-1-4-3

Initialize I/O.

1-2-1-1

Initialize Power Management.

1-2-1-2

Load alternate registers with initial POST values.

1-2-1-3

Jump to UserPatch0.

1-2-2-1

Initialize keyboard controller.

1-2-2-3

BIOS ROM checksum.

1-2-3-1

8254 timer initialization.

1-2-3-3

8237 DMA controller initialization.

1-2-4-1

Reset Programmable Interrupt Controller.

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1-3-1-1

Test DRAM refresh.

1-3-1-3

Test 8742 Keyboard Controller.

1-3-2-1

Set ES segment to register to 4 GB.

1-3-3-1

28 Autosize DRAM.

1-3-3-3

Clear 512K base RAM.

1-3-4-1

Test 512 base address lines.

1-3-4-3

Test 512K base memory.

1-4-1-3

Test CPU bus-clock frequency.

1-4-2-4

Reinitialize the chipset.

1-4-3-1

Shadow system BIOS ROM.

1-4-3-2

Reinitialize the cache.

1-4-3-3

Autosize cache.

1-4-4-1

Configure advanced chipset registers.

1-4-4-2

Load alternate registers with CMOS values.

2-1-1-1

Set Initial CPU speed.

2-1-1-3

Initialize interrupt vectors.

2-1-2-1

Initialize BIOS interrupts.

2-1-2-3

Check ROM copyright notice.

2-1-2-4

Initialize manager for PCI Options ROMs.

2-1-3-1

Check video configuration against CMOS.

2-1-3-2

Initialize PCI bus and devices.

2-1-3-3

Initialize all video adapters in system.

2-1-4-1

Shadow video BIOS ROM.

2-1-4-3

Display copyright notice.

2-2-1-1

Display CPU type and speed.

2-2-1-3

Test keyboard.

2-2-2-1

Set key click if enabled.

2-2-2-3

56 Enable keyboard.

2-2-3-1

Test for unexpected interrupts.

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2-2-3-3

Display prompt "Press F2 to enter SETUP".

2-2-4-1

Test RAM between 512 and 640k.

2-3-1-1

Test expanded memory.

2-3-1-3

Test extended memory address lines.

2-3-2-1

Jump to UserPatch1.

2-3-2-3

Configure advanced cache registers.

2-3-3-1

Enable external and CPU caches.

2-3-3-3

Display external cache size.

2-3-4-1

Display shadow message.

2-3-4-3

Display non-disposable segments.

2-4-1-1

Display error messages.

2-4-1-3

Check for configuration errors.

2-4-2-1

Test real-time clock.

2-4-2-3

Check for keyboard errors

2-4-4-1

Set up hardware interrupts vectors.

2-4-4-3

Test coprocessor if present.

3-1-1-1

Disable onboard I/O ports.

3-1-1-3

Detect and install external RS232 ports.

3-1-2-1

Detect and install external parallel ports.

3-1-2-3

Re-initialize onboard I/O ports.

3-1-3-1

Initialize BIOS Data Area.

3-1-3-3

Initialize Extended BIOS Data Area.

3-1-4-1

Initialize floppy controller.

3-2-1-1

Initialize hard-disk controller.

3-2-1-2

Initialize local-bus hard-disk controller.

3-2-1-3

Jump to UserPatch2.

3-2-2-1

Disable A20 address line.

3-2-2-3

Clear huge ES segment register.

3-2-3-1

Search for option ROMs.

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3-2-3-3

Shadow option ROMs.

3-2-4-1

Set up Power Management.

3-2-4-3

Enable hardware interrupts.

3-3-1-1

Set time of day.

3-3-1-3

Check key lock.

3-3-3-1

Erase F2 prompt.

3-3-3-3

Scan for F2 key stroke.

3-3-4-1

Enter SETUP.

3-3-4-3

Clear in-POST flag.

3-4-1-1

Check for errors

3-4-1-3

POST done--prepare to boot operating system.

3-4-2-1

One beep.

3-4-2-3

Check password (optional).

3-4-3-1

Clear global descriptor table.

3-4-4-1

Clear parity checkers.

3-4-4-3

Clear screen (optional).

3-4-4-4

Check virus and backup reminders.

4-1-1-1

Try to boot with INT 19.

4-2-1-1

Interrupt handler error.

4-2-1-3

Unknown interrupt error.

4-2-2-1

Pending interrupt error.

4-2-2-3

Initialize option ROM error.

4-2-3-1

Shutdown error.

4-2-3-3

Extended Block Move.

4-2-4-1

Shutdown 10 error.

4-3-1-3

Initialize the chipset.

4-3-1-4

Initialize refresh counter.

4-3-2-1

Check for Forced Flash.

4-3-2-2

Check HW status of ROM.

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4-3-2-3

BIOS ROM is OK.

4-3-2-4

Do a complete RAM test.

4-3-3-1

Do OEM initialization.

4-3-3-2

Initialize interrupt controller.

4-3-3-3

Read in bootstrap code.

4-3-3-4

Initialize all vectors.

4-3-4-1

Boot the Flash program.

4-3-4-2

Initialize the boot device.

4-3-4-3

Boot code was read OK.

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