Bios sound one long two short. BIOS beeps when you turn on the computer

All tips

Not everyone will think about what they mean BIOS beeps when we press the power button on the PC. It is the BIOS that causes these sounds, which can be short or long. Different types of BIOS have different sound signals, in this article I will try to talk about all of them, as well as solve some of the problems that they accompany.

Purpose of BIOS beeps

When you turn on your computer, you hear a squeak. Usually it is short and comes out of the speaker located inside the system unit. Such a signal does not bode well and indicates that the program has successfully diagnosed the POST self-test, which is responsible for checking the components for serviceability. If everything is fine, there will be just such a signal.

On some PC models, you may not hear anything at all, but this is only due to the manufacturer, who did not build a speaker into the computer. Unfortunately, the absence of a speaker is not a good solution, since it will not be possible to determine the malfunction, for example, of a video card.

If some kind of malfunction has occurred, then when you turn on the computer, you will hear a sound. There may be several, and they may be long, depending on what is faulty. Usually, the instructions for the BIOS already have all the necessary information about BIOS signals, but if you don’t already have this manual, then read this article and you may find a definition of certain BIOS signals.

Recommendation! If you decide to look inside the system unit, for example, to check for the presence of a speaker, then be sure to turn off the power to the PC, and climb not immediately, but a few minutes after turning it off.

How to find out who made the BIOS?

In this section, I'll show you how to find out who made your motherboard's BIOS firmware. You need to know this, because in different models, sound signals indicate different violations.

First option

The easiest thing to do is to turn on the PC and for a couple of seconds you will notice a window in which the BIOS manufacturer and some other parameters are already indicated. The most popular manufacturers are AMI and AWARD. There are, of course, others.

Second option

To do this, you need to find an item that shows information about the computer and the BIOS firmware itself. Usually the tab is called System Information.

Third option

Boot into Windows andOpen the window "Run" using the keys Win+R. Enter the command there msinfo32. On the left you should be in the section "System Information". On the right we look at the point "BIOS version».

Fourth option

You can also use various utilities, for example, AIDA64 or CPU-Z. The freeware CPU-Z has a tab "Pay" where you are going. There is a subsection "BIOS" and all the necessary information about it.

Using the AIDA64 program, go to the section "Motherboard" on the left and click on the item there "BIOS", all information about Bios will be listed there.

How to decode BIOS beeps?

So, we figured out the manufacturer of the BIOS, now I will show the designation of beeps, but only for a few versions.

AMI BIOS beeps

One of the most famous companies American Megatrends Inc.. AMI BIOS for short. In 2002, it already was. So, a normal beep is a short beep. It means that everything is fine, after which the OS will start loading. Now let's look at other sounds.

Signal	Designation
long continuous	Power supply failure, computer overheating.
Two short	RAM parity error.
Three short	Error of the first 64 KB of RAM.
Four short
five short
six short	Error in keyboard controller.
seven short	Problems with the system board.
eight short	Problems with video card memory.
Nine short	BIOS checksum error.
ten short	Writing to CMOS is not possible.
Eleven short	RAM error.
1 long and 1 short	Something with the power supply.
1 long and 2 short	Problems with RAM or video card.
1 long and 3 short	Problems with the video card or RAM.
1 long and 4 short	There is no video card in the slot.
1 long and 8 short	Lack of monitor connection, something with the video card.
Three long	Completion of the test with an error, problems with the RAM.
5 short and 1 long	There is no RAM module.

Sometimes, the sounds are false, if you turn off the PC again, and then turn it on, then there is a chance that such a signal will no longer exist. If you hear more than one short sound, but such as are shown in the table, then you need to solve the problem.

Sound signals AWARD

The next popular manufacturer is AWARD. Consider its sound signals. Then somehow I will write about all the existing types of BIOS, and I will also recommend a book in which everything is described in great detail.

The normal sound signal, indicating the health of all computer components, is the same as in the first version - a short signal. Other sounds are listed in the table below.

Signal	Designation
continuous signal	Power supply failure.
One short, repeated	Something with the power supply.
One long, repetitive	Problems with RAM.
One long and one short	RAM failure.
One long and two short	Problems with the video card.
One long and three short	Something with the keyboard.
One long and nine short	Error reading data from ROM.
Two long	There are non-critical faults.
Three long

Phoenix beeps

In this type of BIOS, sounds are accompanied by pauses, that is, if 1 sound is heard, then there is a pause, then another sound, and another pause, and then two sounds, then the signal is recorded in the form of these very sequences of pauses and sounds - 1-1-2 . Now I will show it in the table.

Signal	Designation
1-1-2	Problems with the central processor.
1-1-3	Writing to CMOS is not possible. The CMOS battery is dead and needs to be replaced. Problems with the system fee.
1-1-4	Invalid BIOS ROM checksum.
1-2-1	The programmable interrupt timer is defective.
1-2-2	There is an error in the DMA controller.
1-2-3	There is an error in reading/writing the DMA controller.
1-3-1	Problems with memory regeneration.
1-3-2	The RAM test does not run.
1-3-3
1-3-4	The RAM controller is corrupted.
1-4-1	There is a problem in the address bar of the RAM.
1-4-2	RAM parity error.
3-2-4	There was a problem initializing the keyboard.
3-3-1	The CMOS battery is dead.
3-3-4	Problems with the video card.
3-4-1	Problems with the video adapter.
4-2-1	Problems with the system timer.
4-2-2	CMOS termination issues.
4-2-3	Problems with the keyboard controller.
4-2-4	An error in the operation of the central processor.
4-3-1	RAM test failed.
4-3-3	Errors in the timer.
4-3-4	Problems with the operation of the RTC.
4-4-1	Problems with the serial port.
4-4-2	Problems with the parallel port.
4-4-3	Problems with the work of the coprocessor.

It is interesting:

Most common BIOS beeps

Of course, there are many more sound sequences for different types of BIOS, and there would be much more tables here. Therefore, I decided to consider the most popular signals that are found by most users.

1 long and 2 short sounds- usually such a signal indicates problems with the video card. Check if the video card is well inserted into its slot, also do not forget that due to dust and dirt there may be problems with connecting devices, so it's better to clean everything. Pull out the video cards, wipe the contact tracks with an eraser, and very carefully. Then put it back in. If the difficulty persists, then you can try to insert the video card into another slot or switch to the built-in one, provided that it is on the motherboard. It's about integrated.

1 long sound- talks about malfunctions with RAM.

3 short sounds- Again errors in the random-access memory device. There is the following option - pull out the RAM modules and clean the contacts, as well as the slots from dust and dirt, swap places, replace with other RAM modules. Alternatively, you can reset the BIOS.

5 short sounds- This signal indicates a processor malfunction. It is possible that you purchased a new processor that is not compatible with your motherboard. Also check all contacts and clean the dust.

4 long sounds- the signal indicates problems with the cooling system, that is, with coolers. Perhaps they are generally faulty, or work slowly. There are two options, clean them from dust, or change them.

1 long + 2 short sounds- a malfunction of the video card, or from the RAM connectors.

1 long + 3 short sounds- may also indicate problems with the video card and RAM, or something with the keyboard. Will have to check everything.

2 short sounds– I can’t say for sure, check your documentation. There may be a problem with the RAM.

A few short sounds- just count how many sounds and see if such a combination is in the table.

No PC boot and BIOS sound- if there is no sound, then most likely you do not have a speaker, or it is faulty. If the computer does not boot, then check the power supply.

Troubleshooting Tips for a Computer Beeping BIOS

I almost never had any components fail, and sound signals appeared only due to poor contact of some components. For example, badly inserted RAM modules or a video card. Sometimes some kind of failure just happened, and a simple restart of the computer helps. Sometimes it can help in solving problems at all.

I want to say that people who do not know should not take any action. If you have friends who can help, then contact them, or go to the service.

Sometimes you can fix the situation like this: remove some component and wipe its contact from dust, also blow out the connector. Then put everything back. You can clean the contacts with alcohol and a dry cloth, or with an eraser.
Look at all the components and elements inside the system unit. Is there a smell of burnt components, swollen capacitors, oxide and other bad phenomena.
Before climbing inside the system unit, disconnect it from the power supply, and also remove static electricity from yourself. You can just touch the power supply itself with your hands.
Do not touch the board pins.
Never use metal tools to clean the modules.
Assess the situation before starting work. The computer is under warranty, and you don't even have work experience? Then give it back under warranty, or ask a knowledgeable friend to help.

Any questions please ask in the comments. I hope this article has helped you in solving your problems.

I am often asked what it means BIOS beeps when PC is turned on. In this article, we will take a closer look at BIOS sounds depending on the manufacturer, the most likely errors and how to fix them. In a separate paragraph, I will tell you 4 simple ways to find out the BIOS manufacturer, and also remind you of the basic principles of working with hardware.

Let's get started!

1. What BIOS beeps are for

Every time you turn it on, you hear the computer beeping. Often this is the one that is heard from the speaker of the system unit. It means that the POST diagnostic program completed successfully and did not find any problems. After that, the loading of the installed operating system begins.

If your computer does not have a system speaker, then you will not hear any sounds. This is not an indication of a bug, it's just that the manufacturer of your device decided to save money.

Most often, I observed this situation with laptops and DNS desktops (now they release their products under the DEXP brand). "What threatens the lack of dynamics?" - you ask. It seems to be such a trifle, and the computer works fine even without it. But if the video card cannot be initialized, it will not be possible to identify and fix the problem.

If problems are detected, the computer will emit an appropriate beep - a certain sequence of long or short beeps. You can decipher it using the instructions for the motherboard, but who among us keeps such instructions? Therefore, in this article, I have prepared tables for you with the decoding of BIOS sound signals that will help you identify the problem and fix it.

In modern motherboards, the system speaker is built-in.

Attention! All manipulations with the hardware configuration of the computer should be carried out if it is completely disconnected from the mains. Before opening the case, be sure to remove the power plug from the socket.

2. How to find out the BIOS manufacturer

Before looking for a decoding of computer sounds, you need to find out the manufacturer of the BIOS, since their sound signals differ significantly.

2.1. Method 1

You can make "identification" in various ways, the simplest - look at the screen while loading. At the top, the manufacturer and BIOS version are usually indicated. To capture this moment press the Pause key on your keyboard. If instead of the necessary information you see only the splash screen of the motherboard manufacturer, press Tab.

The two most popular BIOS manufacturers are AWARD and AMI

2.2. Method 2

Go to BIOS. I wrote in detail about how to do this. Browse the sections and find the item - System Information. The current BIOS version should be indicated there. And at the bottom (or top) of the screen, the manufacturer will be indicated - American Megatrends Inc. (AMI), AWARD, DELL, etc.

2.3. Method 3

One of the fastest ways to find out the BIOS manufacturer is to use the Windows + R hotkeys and enter the MSINFO32 command in the Run line that opens. Thus it will be launched System Information utility, with which you can get all the information about the hardware configuration of the computer.

Launching the System Information utility

It can also be launched from the menu: Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Information

You can find out the BIOS manufacturer through "System Information"

2.4. Method 4

Use third-party programs, they were described in detail in. Most often used CPU-Z, it is absolutely free and very simple (you can download it on the official website). After starting the program, go to the "Board" tab and in the BIOS section you will see all the information about the manufacturer:

How to find BIOS manufacturer using CPU-Z

3. Decoding BIOS signals

After we have figured out the type of BIOS, you can begin to decipher the sound signals, depending on the manufacturer. Consider the main ones in the tables.

3.1. AMI BIOS - beeps

AMI BIOS (American Megatrends Inc.) since 2002 is most popular manufacturer in the world. In all versions, the successful completion of the self-test is one short beep , after which the installed operating system is loaded. Other AMI BIOS beeps are listed in the table:

Signal type	Decryption
2 short	RAM parity error.
3 short	Error of the first 64 KB of RAM.
4 short
5 short	CPU failure.
6 short	Keyboard controller error.
7 short	Motherboard failure.
8 short	Video card memory failure.
9 short	BIOS checksum error.
10 short	Unable to write to CMOS.
11 short	RAM error.
1 dl + 1 box	Computer power supply failure.
1 dl + 2 kor
1 dl + 3 kor	Video card error, RAM malfunction.
1 dl + 4 kor	The video card is missing.
1 dl + 8 kor	The monitor is not connected, or problems with the video card.
3 long	RAM problems, test ended with an error.
5 cor + 1 dl	There is no RAM.
Continuous	Problems with the power supply or overheating of the PC.

No matter how trite it may sound, but I advise my friends and clients in most cases turn off and turn on the computer. Yes, this is a typical phrase from the guys from your provider's technical support, but it really helps! However, if after the next reboot, squeaks are heard from the speaker that are different from the usual one short beep, then you need to fix the problem. I will talk about this at the end of the article.

3.2. AWARD BIOS Signals

Like AMI, one short beep AWARD BIOS signals a successful self-test and the start of the operating system startup. What do other sounds mean? Let's look at the table:

Signal type	Decryption
1 recurring short	Problems with the power supply.
1 repetitive long	RAM problems.
1 long + 1 short	RAM failure.
1 long + 2 short	Video card error.
1 long + 3 short	Keyboard problems.
1 long + 9 short	Error reading data from ROM.
2 short	Minor malfunctions
3 long	Keyboard controller error
continuous sound	Power supply defective.

3.3. Phoenix BIOS

PHOENIX has very characteristic "beeps", they are written in the table differently from AMI or AWARD. In the table they are indicated as combinations of sounds and pauses. For example, 1-1-2 would sound like one beep, pause, another beep, another pause, and two beeps.

Signal type	Decryption
1-1-2	CPU error.
1-1-3	Unable to write to CMOS. Probably the battery on the motherboard is dead. Motherboard failure.
1-1-4	Invalid BIOS ROM checksum.
1-2-1	Faulty programmable interrupt timer.
1-2-2	DMA controller error.
1-2-3	Error reading or writing DMA controller.
1-3-1	Memory refresh error.
1-3-2	RAM test does not start.
1-3-3	Faulty RAM controller.
1-3-4	Faulty RAM controller.
1-4-1	RAM address bar error.
1-4-2	RAM parity error.
3-2-4	Keyboard initialization error.
3-3-1	The battery on the motherboard is dead.
3-3-4	Video card failure.
3-4-1	Video adapter failure.
4-2-1	System timer malfunction.
4-2-2	CMOS termination error.
4-2-3	Keyboard controller failure.
4-2-4	CPU error.
4-3-1	Error in RAM test.
4-3-3	Timer error
4-3-4	RTC error.
4-4-1	Serial port failure.
4-4-2	Parallel port failure.
4-4-3	Coprocessor malfunction.

4. The most popular BIOS sounds and their meaning

I could make a dozen more different tables for decoding beeps for you, but I decided that it would be much more useful to pay attention to the most popular BIOS beeps. So, what are users most often looking for:

one long two short BIOS beeps- almost certainly this sound does not bode well, namely problems with the video card. The first step is to check if the video card is fully inserted into the motherboard. Oh, by the way, how long have you been? After all, one of the reasons for problems with loading can be banal dust that has clogged into the cooler. But back to the problems with the video card. Try pulling it out and cleaning the contacts with an eraser. It will not be superfluous to make sure that there are no debris or foreign objects in the connectors. Does the error still occur? Then the situation is more complicated, you will have to try to boot a computer with an integrated "vidyuha" (provided that it is on the motherboard). If it boots up, it means that the problem is in the removed video card and you can’t do without replacing it.
one long BIOS beep on power up- Possibly memory problems.
3 short BIOS beeps- RAM error. What can be done? Remove the RAM modules and clean the contacts with an eraser, wipe with a cotton swab moistened with alcohol, try to swap the modules. It is also possible. If the RAM modules are working, the computer will boot.
5 short BIOS beeps- Faulty processor. Very unpleasant sound, isn't it? If the processor was installed for the first time, check its compatibility with the motherboard. If everything worked before, but now the computer squeaks like a cut, then you need to check whether the contacts are clean and even.
4 long BIOS beeps- low speed or stop of the CPU fan. You need to either clean it or replace it.
1 long 2 short BIOS beeps- problems with the video card or malfunction of the RAM connectors.
1 long 3 short BIOS beeps- either problems with the video card, or problems with RAM, or keyboard errors.
two short BIOS beeps – see the manufacturer to clarify the error.
three long BIOS beeps- problems with RAM (the solution to the problem is described above), or problems with the keyboard.
BIOS signals are too short- you need to count exactly how many short signals.
Computer won't boot and no BIOS signal- the power supply is faulty, the processor is not working properly, or the system speaker is missing (see above).

From my own experience, I can say that quite often all problems with loading a computer are due to poor contact between various modules, such as RAM or a video card. And, as I wrote above, in some cases a regular reboot helps. Sometimes you can solve the problem, or by resetting the system board settings.

Attention! If you doubt your abilities, it is better to entrust the diagnosis and repair to professionals. You should not take risks, and then blame the author of the article for what he is not guilty of :)

To solve the problem, it is necessary pull out the module from the connector, remove dust and reinsert. Contacts can be carefully cleaned and wiped with alcohol. It is convenient to use a dry toothbrush to clean the connector from dirt.
Don't forget to spend visual inspection. If some elements are deformed, have a black coating or streaks, the cause of problems with loading the computer will be in full view.
Let me also remind you that any manipulations with the system unit should be performed only when power off. Don't forget to remove static electricity. To do this, it will be enough to take hold of the computer system unit with both hands.
Dont touch to the pins of the microcircuit.
Do not use metal and abrasive materials to clean the contacts of the RAM or video card modules. For this purpose, you can use a soft eraser.
sober evaluate your possibilities. If your computer is under warranty, it is better to use the services of a service center than to delve into the "brains" of the machine yourself.

If you have any questions - ask them in the comments to this article, we will figure it out!

The topic of this article will be the BIOS. First, we will deal with the question, what is the BIOS and what does it serve? And after that, we will describe the BIOS sound signals in as much detail as possible.

BIOS (Basic Input-Output System, basic input-output system) is a special program that is stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) chip. Often there is an English-language designation for this type of memory - Read Only Memory, or abbreviated as ROM. In practice, for a long time now, instead of conventional ROMs of microcircuits, Flash memory has been used, which is rewritable, which allows the user to independently update BIOS versions.

BIOS functions

As for the BIOS functions, they are very extensive.

Firstly, as soon as the PC is powered on, control immediately passes to the BIOS. This program performs the initial testing of the components of the system unit. After a successful check, the BIOS transfers control of the computer to the next program, which is written to the Boot sector (boot sector) located on the boot disk (a hard disk, CD, floppy disk, flash drive, etc. can act as a boot disk) . The procedure for initial equipment testing is called POST (Power-On Self Test - self-testing after power-on).

Secondly, thanks to the BIOS, a special CMOS chip stores the hardware configuration of the computer. When the PC is powered on, the current hardware configuration is compared with that stored in the chip. If the program finds differences between these two configurations, then the CMOS data will be updated and, if necessary, you will be prompted to enter BIOS Setup to specify the new parameters of the detected hardware. If no differences in the configurations are found, or if the configuration can be updated without user intervention, then the program performs the necessary settings (configuration) of the hardware components of the computer.

CMOS-memory (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) is a microcircuit (RAM or RAM - Random Access Memory) that is small in size. But since there is a need to save information in it even after turning off the power, the CMOS memory is additionally powered by its own battery. There are several problems associated with this battery. One of them is a limited service life, which is 5-6 years. After the expiration of this period of time, the battery can no longer provide the required level of power, which leads to the loss of the stored information in the chip. Although this problem is solved quite simply - a new battery is installed.

Thirdly, using a special BIOS Setup program, the user can set various parameters and select operating modes for individual PC components. Here the user can also disable the equipment that is not used, or its use is undesirable in order to ensure the security of the computer. Fourth, the BIOS handles I/O operations. Actually for the sake of this, this system was originally developed. Thanks to the presence of the BIOS, for example, the hard drive understands that the head needs to be placed on a specific track or read a specific sector, etc.

If all programs had to contain instructions of this kind in their composition, then they would be huge, and their work would be very inefficient. In addition, with the advent of each new device, they would have to be modified. Therefore, in order to avoid such problems, a significant part of the work associated with the processing of I / O operations was assigned to the BIOS. Naturally, the BIOS did not remove absolutely all the problems, but it significantly simplified the solution of most of them. It is worth noting that today this is no longer as relevant as it was in the days of the MS-DOS operating system. Modern operating systems such as Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows Seven make little use of the BIOS to handle I/O operations. But here it must be said that everything said is very conditional. In fact, all tasks are performed by the operating system in close cooperation with the BIOS, complementing each other functionally.

The average user often has to deal with that part of the BIOS, which is called BIOS Setup. BIOS Setup is a special subroutine that allows you to configure the operation of individual computer hardware components. The main difficulty in setting it up lies in the incomprehensible names of the options, which can tell little about anything to a not very advanced user. In addition, the problem is exacerbated by the lack of reference material on these settings. And if we consider it as a whole, then BIOS Setup is nothing special, the only thing that distinguishes it from other programs is a rather archaic interface compared to modern operating systems. All settings made by the user during computer setup through BIOS Setup are stored in the CMOS memory chip, where they are stored along with the system hardware configuration data.

How to reset BIOS settings

Below we will give several ways that help solve problems with resetting the BIOS, that is, returning it to its original state, in which all settings will be the same as they were before the changes made by the user. Often, such a simple operation as resetting the BIOS settings allows you to eliminate a number of problems with starting the computer, and also helps to avoid visiting a service center.

Method 1

We return the BIOS to the factory default settings using the BIOS setup interface, which will allow us not to disassemble the system unit once again. It should be noted that this method is feasible in cases where the BIOS is loaded. To reset the BIOS, you need to find the menu item load bios defaults or load setup defaults, as shown in the figure and press Enter.

Method 2

Reset BIOS settings with a battery. Before starting, you should turn off the power from the computer completely. After you make sure that all the cords are removed from the sockets, you need to remove the side cover of the system unit. Next, find the same battery and take it out for 5-10 minutes. After this period, you can return it to its place. The BIOS should reset.

Method 3

We reset the BIOS settings using the jumper (jumper). Finding a jumper on the motherboard is easy, it is almost always located next to the battery. It is designated as Clear CMOS or Clear RTS. Sometimes, for easier access to it, motherboard manufacturers place it at the edge of the board. To reset the BIOS settings, you need to move the jumper for a few seconds from position 1-2 to position 2-3, and then return it to its place.

If everything is done correctly, then after turning on the computer, after a few seconds, one short signal will sound - this indicates that the system is in order and then the operating system will start loading. If a hardware problem is detected in the system, the signal will look different. By the type of signal, you can determine what kind of malfunction is detected, and what further actions should be taken. All BIOS signals (served using a speaker) are distinguished depending on its version and, of course, depending on the nature of the detected malfunction. The BIOS version is determined based on the documentation that comes with the motherboard. If for some reason the documents are missing, then you can determine the BIOS version using special utilities that are available in abundance on the Internet. Another BIOS version is usually displayed on the monitor screen when the computer starts in the lower left corner. Of all the BIOS manufacturers on the market, two main competitors should be distinguished, the software of which is equipped with the vast majority of modern PCs. These are two well-known brands such as American Megatrends (AMI) and Award Software. So let's take a look at the AMI beep first.

BIOS beeps: AMI BIOS

- Two short beeps from the speaker mean some kind of malfunction in the computer's RAM. Troubleshooting options: it is necessary to remove the memory module from the slot, wipe it with a dry brush and insert the module into place, if the signals are repeated after starting the PC, then further testing of the memory or its complete replacement may be required;
– Three short beeps of the speaker in a row mean an error in reading the first 64 KB of the main memory of the PC. Troubleshooting options: it is necessary to remove the memory module from the slot, if there is dust, wipe the bar with a dry brush and insert the module into place, if the signals repeat, further testing of the memory or its complete replacement may be required;

– Four consecutive short beeps from the speaker indicate a malfunction of the system timer. Troubleshooting options: restart the PC, and if the signals are repeated, then repair or replace the motherboard;
– Five consecutive short beeps of the speaker indicate a malfunction of the central processor. Troubleshooting options: reboot the PC again, if the signals repeat, replace the processor;
– Six consecutive short beeps from the speaker indicate a malfunction of the keyboard controller. Troubleshooting options: check the cable and keyboard connection to the system unit, check the keyboards on another computer. If after checking it turns out that the keyboard is working, then the option remains to repair the motherboard, or replace it;
– Seven consecutive short beeps of the speaker indicate a malfunction of the motherboard. Troubleshooting options: reboot again and if the signals are repeated, then repair or purchase of a new motherboard will be required;
– Eight consecutive short beeps from the speaker indicate a problem with the memory of the graphics card. Troubleshooting options: if the signals repeat after a reboot, either repairing the old one or buying a new video card will be required;
– Nine short beeps in a row indicate a malfunction of the BIOS chip itself. Troubleshooting options: flashing the microcircuit or its complete replacement;
– Ten consecutive short beeps of the speaker indicate the impossibility of writing to the CMOS memory. Troubleshooting options: zeroing the CMOS memory with one of the above options. If the signals persist after setting the BIOS defaults, the CMOS memory module needs to be replaced;
– Eleven consecutive short beeps of the speaker indicate a malfunction of the RAM. Troubleshooting options: it is necessary to remove the memory module from the slot, if there is dust, wipe the bar with a dry brush and insert the module into place, if the signals repeat, further testing of the memory or its complete replacement may be required;
- One long and three short speaker beeps as well as one long and eight short beeps again indicate a video card malfunction. Troubleshooting options are the same as in the previous case.
– The absence of speaker signals may indicate a malfunction of the power supply. Troubleshooting options: check the fastening of the power supply plugs to the connectors on the motherboard, clean the power supply from dust. If these steps do not work, if possible, try to test the PSU on another computer. With such symptoms, you will either need to repair it or purchase a new power supply.

BIOS beeps: Award BIOS

– One short speaker beep means there are no errors in the system and the computer is in full working order;
– Two consecutive short beeps from the speaker indicate the detection of “minor” errors. Troubleshooting options: you need to check the reliability of the fastening of components and cables to the PC motherboard, then try to set the default BIOS values;

– A short, repeated speaker beep indicates a PSU failure. Troubleshooting options: check the fastening of the power supply plugs to the connectors on the motherboard, clean the power supply from dust. If these steps do not work, if possible, try to test the PSU on another computer. With such symptoms, either its repair or the purchase of a new power supply will be required;
– A long, repeating speaker beep indicates a malfunction of the RAM. Troubleshooting options: it is necessary to remove the memory module from the slot, if there is dust, wipe the bar with a dry brush and insert the module into place, if the signals repeat, further testing of the memory or its complete replacement may be required;
– Three long beeps from the speaker indicate a keyboard controller failure. Troubleshooting options: check the cable and keyboard connection to the system unit, check the keyboards on another computer. If after checking it turns out that the keyboard is working, then the option remains to repair the motherboard, or replace it;
– One long and one short speaker beeps indicate a malfunction of the RAM. Troubleshooting options: it is necessary to remove the memory module from the slot, if there is dust, wipe the bar with a dry brush and insert the module into place, if the signals repeat, further testing of the memory or its complete replacement may be required;
– One long and two short speaker beeps indicate a video card failure. Troubleshooting options: you need to check the cable going from the video card to the monitor, if the cable is in order, you need to remove the video card from the slot, wipe, if necessary, from dust and insert it back. If these actions did not work, then it may be necessary to repair or purchase a new video card;
– One long and three short speaker beeps indicate a keyboard controller failure. Troubleshooting options: check the cable and keyboard connection to the system unit, check the keyboards on another computer. If after checking it turns out that the keyboard is working, then the option remains to repair the motherboard, or replace it;
- One long and nine consecutive short speaker beeps indicate a malfunction of the BIOS chip itself. Troubleshooting options: flashing the microcircuit or its complete replacement;
– The absence of speaker signals may indicate a malfunction of the power supply. Troubleshooting options: check the fastening of the power supply plugs to the connectors on the motherboard, clean the power supply from dust. If as a result of the actions taken, when you try to turn on the computer again, there are no signals, the power supply needs to be repaired.

Separately, it is necessary to note the continuous sound signals of the BIOS that change in tone. This can be caused by either a faulty PSU or an overheating PC.

Computer crashes and errors

Compared to the beeps of other BIOS manufacturers, AMI BIOS beeps are very diverse. In most cases, these beeps allow you to identify a malfunction even at the stage of booting the computer and the POST hardware test procedure. As a rule, to determine the component that causes the problem, you only need to count the number of signals emitted by the system speaker.

Below are the beeps emitted by the BIOS AMI. In all cases, the number of signals and their type (long/short) are indicated.

No signals

This situation is perhaps the most unpleasant of those that a user may encounter. As a rule, it means that the power is not supplied to the motherboard or the BIOS is completely faulty. No power to the motherboard usually means either a faulty/broken power cable or a faulty computer power supply.

one short

A single short beep is the same beep that all users are used to hearing every time they start their PC. It means that no errors or problems were found during the hardware check, and the computer can boot further.

long continuous

Such a signal means that the PC power supply is faulty. However, in contrast to the situation with the complete absence of signals, in this case, power is supplied to the motherboard, but its parameters do not correspond to the nominal value.

Two short

This signal indicates an error in the RAM. This error may indicate a malfunction of the memory modules themselves, or simply that one of the modules is poorly inserted into the slot.

Three short

This type of signal also indicates an error in the RAM. But this error is quite specific and rarely encountered - this is an error in the first 64 KB of RAM.

Four short

This signal indicates a malfunction of the system timer. Fortunately, this type of malfunction is rare, but often the only way to fix it is to replace the entire motherboard.

five short

In a similar way, the BIOS informs the user about a malfunction of the heart of a personal computer - the central processor. However, not always this malfunction can be associated with a defect in the processor chip itself. Often, to fix the problem, it is enough to check the reliability of the processor installation in the socket.

six short

This message indicates a malfunction of the keyboard controller, as well as the absence of the keyboard itself. Very often, to correct this situation, it is enough to check the contact in the keyboard connector on the system unit.

seven short

A similar set of sounds indicates a rather serious malfunction - namely, a motherboard failure. However, sometimes the error may disappear after checking the power cable pins on the system board.

eight short

BIOS message indicating video memory failure. But here, as with many other errors, sometimes the problem can be just a bad connection - in this case, between the motherboard slot and the video card.

Nine short

In this case, the BIOS signals a BIOS memory checksum error. The reasons for this phenomenon can be different - a bug in the new version of the BIOS or an accidental failure in the CMOS memory. Often the problem can be fixed by flashing the BIOS.

ten short

With this set of signals, the BIOS reports a write error to the CMOS memory. As a rule, this error is more serious than the previous one and often requires the intervention of a specialist from the service workshop.

Eleven short

One long, then two, three or eight short

This type of informational message tells the user that there are video card errors. Typically, these beeps only occur when using older video cards (Mono/CGA/EGA), so the chance of encountering them is currently extremely small. In most cases, this malfunction is eliminated by carefully installing the video card in the slot.

Hearing the BIOS signal 1 long beep, the user is usually alert. Indeed, as you know, in most BIOSes, the message about the successful completion of hardware testing sounds somewhat different, although it is similar - one signal, but short. Is there any reason for concern in this case? Practice shows that in most cases - Yes.

First of all, it is necessary to define the concept of "long signal". In many cases, one incessant sound can also be considered long. If you hear this sound, and you have an Award BIOS installed, then this means that the power supply is faulty. In the case of the Phoenix BIOS, in such a situation, there is a malfunction of the CPU cooler fan. In the Compaq BIOS, this type of sound indicates a memory problem.

More often, however, the user may encounter a somewhat different situation where only a continuous but time-limited signal occurs. This kind of similar signal is used by many BIOS manufacturers to encode error messages.

However, one long BIOS beep is a sound that is often used not only to signal errors. For example, you can find BIOS versions of the well-known manufacturer American Megatrends, in which the BIOS signal 1 long beep is used to notify the normal completion of tests instead of the normally used short beep. A similar approach is also used in the Mylex 386 BIOS. This factor should also be kept in mind, especially if you are dealing with a particular computer for the first time.

In AST BIOS, one long beep has a completely different meaning, namely, an error detected when testing the first channel of the DMA controller. Usually this situation means a malfunction of the microcontroller, which may be fraught with the need to replace the entire motherboard.

In the IBM BIOS, a similar BIOS signal, one long beep, also has its own meaning - this is a malfunction of the video system. You can try to fix this problem situation yourself by checking the reliability of the video card installation in the motherboard expansion slot.