Beep Codes

Beep Codes �� (or how to go broke fast.)

Beep codes are the little beeps you hear come out of the PC speaker whenever you turn the computer on. They are your computer's way of letting you know what's going on in there when the video signal is not working. These codes are built in to the of the PC. If you don�t hear any beeps, it pays to check to make certain that the speaker inside the computer case is plugged into the motherboard (main board).

There is no official standard for these codes due to the many brands of BIOS there are out there and at last count I found 122 different brands and the good news is that many of these small fly-by-night companies copy the big boys of the market; the two main brands are Phoenix and American Megatrends, Inc. (AMI). As a result, these beep code formats are the most common, and will be covered here. If you don't know who made your BIOS, you can consult the manual of your motherboard. If you don't have a manual, simply take off the case and look, you should see either AMI or Phoenix clearly stamped or printed on the top of a chip.

Once you have determined your BIOS make, consult the following to see what's wrong with your computer.

AMI BIOS

Normally, a computer with AMI BIOS doesn't bother with beeps. It will flash a nice little error message right across your screen. Its when the video card isn't working or something rather serious goes wrong that your computer will start beeping.

AMI BIOS Beeps
Number of Beeps	What's Wrong
none	You're supposed to hear at least one beep. If you truly don't hear anything, your computer's power supply is no good. Either that or your motherboard or PC Speaker is broken.
1	One beep is good! Everything is OK, that is if you see things on the screen. If you don't see anything, check your monitor and video card first. Is everything connected? If they seem fine, your motherboard has some bad chips on it. First reset the RAM modules and reboot. If it does the same thing, try changing your RAM module [Chip(s)] or one of the memory chips on the motherboard are bad, and you most likely need to get another motherboard since these chips are soldered on.
2	Your computer has memory problems. First check video. If video is working, you'll see an error message. If not, you have a parity error in your first 64K of memory. First check your SIMM's. Reseat them and reboot. If this doesn't do it, the memory chips may be bad. You can try switching the first and second banks memory chips. First banks are the memory banks that your CPU finds its first 64K of base memory in. You'll need to consult your manual to see which bank is first. If all your memory tests good, you probably need to buy another motherboard.
3	Basically the same thing as 2 beeps. Follow that diagnosis above.
4	Basically the same thing as 2 beeps. Follow that diagnosis above. It could also be a bad timer 1.
5	Your motherboard is complaining. Try reseating the memory and rebooting. If that doesn't help, you should consider another motherboard. You could probably get away with just replacing the CPU, but that's not too cost-effective. Its just time to upgrade!
6	The chip on your motherboard that controls your keyboard isn't working. First try another keyboard. If it doesn't help, reseat the chip that controls the keyboard, if it isn't soldered in. If it still beeps, replace the chip if possible. Replace the motherboard if it is soldered in.
7	Your CPU or motherboard is faulty.� Either replace the CPU, or buy another motherboard.� This is going to cost you money anyway you look at it, so now is the time to upgrade.
8	Your video card isn't working. Make sure it is seated well in the bus. If it still beeps, either the whole card is bad or the memory on it is. Best bet is to install another video card.
9	Your BIOS is bad. Replace the BIOS.
10	Your problem lies deep inside the CMOS. All chips associated with the CMOS will likely have to be replaced. Your best bet is to get a new motherboard.
11	Your cache memory is bad and your computer disabled it for you. You could reactivate it by pressing -Ctrl- -Alt- -Shift- -+- , but you probably shouldn't. Instead, replace your cache memory.

And that�s the good news to date, but it gets just as bad with Phoenix when the BIOS beeps there.� Gee, this is not a fun page to visit and read is it!

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Phoenix BIOS

Phoenix beep codes are more detailed than are the AMI codes. It emits three sets of beeps. For example, 1 -pause- 3 -pause 3 -pause-. This is a 1-3-3 combo and each set of beeps is separated by a brief pause. So, you need to listen and count when your computer starts doing this. Reboot and recount if you have to.

Phoenix BIOS Beeps
1-1-3	Your computer can't read the configuration info stored in the CMOS. Replace the motherboard.
1-1-4	Your BIOS needs to be replaced.
1-2-1	You have a bad timer chip on the motherboard. You need a new motherboard.
1-2-2	The motherboard is bad.
1-2-3	The motherboard is bad.
1-3-1	You'll need to replace the motherboard.
1-3-3	Same as AMI BIOS 2 beeps. Replace the motherboard.
1-3-4	The motherboard is bad.
1-4-1	The motherboard is bad.
1-4-2	Some of your memory is bad.
2-_-_	Any combo of beeps after two means that some of your memory is bad, and unless you want to get real technical, you should probably have RAM tested using professional equipment, now is the time to call for help.
3-1-_	One of the chips on your motherboard is broken. You'll likely need to get another board.
3-2-4	Same as AMI BIOS 6 beeps. Keyboard controller failure.
3-3-4	Your computer can't find the video card. Is it there? If so, try swapping it with another one and see if it works.
3-4-_	Your video card isn't working. You'll need to replace it.
4-2-1	There's a bad chip on the motherboard. You need to buy another board.
4-2-2	First check the keyboard for problems. If nothing, you have a bad motherboard.
4-2-3	Same as 4-2-2.
4-2-4	One of the cards is bad. Try carefully puling out the cards one by one to isolate the culprit. Replace the bad one. The last possibility is to buy another motherboard.
4-3-1	Replace the motherboard.
4-3-2	See 4-3-1
4-3-3	See 4-3-1
4-3-4	Time of day clock failure. Try running the setup program that comes with the computer. Check the date and time. If that doesn't work, replace the battery. If that doesn't work, replace the power supply. You may have to replace the motherboard, but that is rare.
4-4-1	Your serial ports are acting up. Reseat, or replace, the I/O card. If the I/O is on the motherboard itself, disable them with a jumper (consult your manual to know which one) and then add an I/O card.
4-4-2	See 4-4-1
4-4-3	You math coprocessor has died, or is dying. Run a test program to double-check it.� This one is going to cost you money once again.� Its just all good news on this page and for that I am sorry, but sometimes our silicone friends do pass on to the great place known as Silicone Heaven.