POST Codes
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ScribdTranslationsPOSTcodes(motherbeeps)
Many times, after tinkering inside the PC, or when we assemble one, when we turn it on
we realize that it doesn't start and, on top of that, it emits a series of strange beeps that do not
we know what they mean.
The term POST stands for Power On Self Test.(carpower-on test) which is the first thing that
it performs when we turn it on. Normally, we hear a beep and right after we have
image on the monitor; the POST has completed successfully.
In case nothing appears and it starts to beep, here is the meaning. These codes are
valid for all devices. You just need to consider the type of motherboard BIOS.
In some cases, there may be no beeping. The board will communicate visually.
through some LEDs or a display on its surface or on a support in a PCI bay.
Generic codes
No beeping: there is no electricity supply.
Continuous beeping: power supply failure.
Short beeping sounds: damaged motherboard.
Long beep sequences: Damaged memory or corrupted CMOS.
1 long beep: the memory is not functioning or is not present.
1 long and 1 short: failure in the motherboard or in the basic ROM.
1 long and 2 short: failure in the video card or it is not present.
1 long and 3 short: EGA card failure.
2 long and 1 short: image synchronization failure.
2 short beeps: RAM parity error.
3 short beeps: failure in the first 64 KB of the RAM memory.
4 short beeps: faulty timer or counter.
5 shorts: the processor or video card fail the test (cause problems).
6 shorts: keyboard controller failure. This error is very common when it is unplugged.
keyboard with the equipment turned on.
7 shorts: active mode of AT processor, exception error/processor identifier.
8 shorts: writing error in the video RAM.
9 shorts: ROM BIOS checksum error.
10 short beeps: CMOS error.
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IBM Codes
2 short beeps: detail of the error displayed on the monitor.
Uninterrupted beeping: just like the generic codes: power supply failure.
3 long beeps: keyboard failure.
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AMI BIOS Codes
*1 short: error desoft drinkin the DRAM.
2 short: parity error.
*3 shorts: error in the first 64 KB of RAM.
4 shorts: clock error.
5 short: processor error.
6 shorts: keyboard error; similar to generic codes.
8 shorts: error in the graphics memory.
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Award BIOS codes
1 short beep and 1 long beep: video error.
1 short and 3 long: keyboard error.
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Phoenix BIOS Codes
The dashes are pauses!
1-1-2: Processor check failure.
*1-1-2: Serious tone. Fault in the motherboard.
1-1-3: Error accessing the CMOS.
1-1-3: Serious tone. Failure in the extended CMOS memory.
1-1-4: Error in the checksum of the BIOS itself.
1-2-1: Error in the PIT (Programmable Interval Timer).
1-2-2: Error in the DMA controller.
*1-2-3: Failure to access DMA.
1-3-1: RAM memory refresh error.
1-3-2: Error in checking the first 64 KB of RAM.
1-3-3: Error in the first 64 KB of RAM.
1-3-4: Failure in the control logic of the first 64 KB of RAM.
1-4-1: Fault in the addressing line of the first 64 KB of RAM.
1-4-2: Parity error in the first 64 KB of RAM.
1-4-3: EISA bus timer check failure.
1-4-4: Error in checking port 462 for the EISA bus.
2-1-1 to 2-1-4: Error in one of the bits of the first 64 KB of RAM.
*2-2-1 to 2-2-4: Error in one of the bits of the first 64 KB of RAM.
2-3-1 to 2-3-4: Error in one of the bits of the first 64 KB of RAM.
2-4-1 to 2-4-4: Error in one of the bits of the first 64 KB of RAM.
3-3-1: Error in the registration of the secondary DMA.
3-1-2: Error in the registration of the primary DMA.
3-1-3: Failure in the primary interruption registration.
3-1-4: Error in the registration of the secondary interruption.
*3-2-2: Error in the interrupt vector.
*3-2-3: Reserved.
3-2-4: Keyboard controller failure.
3-3-1: Power failure in the CMOS memory.
3-3-2: Configuration error in the CMOS.
3-3-3: Reserved.
3-3-4: Video memory error.
3-4-1: Error in the initialization of the graphics card.
4-2-1: System timer error.
4-2-2: Shutdown failure.
4-2-3: Failure at door A20 of the keyboard controller.
4-2-4: Unexpected interruption in protected mode.
4-3-1: Error in RAM check.
4-3-3: Error in the second channel of the timer.
4-3-4: System clock error.
4-4-1: Error in the serial port.
4-4-2: Error in the parallel port.
4-4-3: Fault in the math coprocessor (MPU).
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Common codes
1 high-pitched beep and 1 low-pitched beep repeating in the form of a siren: although this is not really a
POST error code, I feel compelled to comment on it. This type of 'siren' indicates that the
the processor is very hot. It is an acoustic alarm to indicate that the processor has reached or
it has exceeded the alarm temperature set by the user or the manufacturer in the BIOS. In some
On certain occasions, it is accompanied by a sudden freeze and subsequent shutdown of the device.
(shutdown temperature, set by the user in the BIOS).
1 beep neither long nor short: as I mentioned at the beginning, this beep indicates that the POST has
successfully completed. The BIOS will start looking for a drive with an operating system or with the
installer of it and will start it.
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Other beeps
3 short beeps with pauses: some BIOS may emit 3 beeps after clearing the CMOS.
part, they display a message on the screen in case you want to load thevaluesby default or enter in the
configuration of it.
neither long nor short beep, like that of the POST: the BIOS of some network cards may make
sound the speaker before the operating system starts to indicate that they work. Usually
display a message on screen.
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SOURCE:
www.hard-h2o.com
