What does the 3 short beep mean? What do BIOS beeps mean when you turn on your computer?

When you turn on the computer, the BIOS performs a process of diagnosing the hardware of the motherboard and all connected devices: processor, RAM, power supply, graphics subsystem and other devices. If the POST request is not completed correctly, the beep device plays a signal or group of signals in a specific sequence of tones. To test your computer at startup, you only need to know the following table of BIOS beeps.

Signals from different BIOS manufacturers.

IBM BIOS

Award BIOS

AMI BIOS

AST BIOS

Phoenix BIOS

Compaq BIOS

DELL BIOS

Quadtel BIOS

The list is updated regularly.

Very often people ask me what they mean BIOS beeps when turning on PC. In this article we will take a detailed look at BIOS sounds depending on the manufacturer, the most likely errors and how to eliminate 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 are BIOS beeps for?

Every time you turn it on, you hear the computer beeping. Often this is heard from the speaker of the system unit. It indicates that the POST diagnostic self-test has successfully completed the test and has not detected any faults. After which the installed operating system begins loading.

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

Most often, I observed this situation with laptops and DNS stationary systems (now they produce their products under the DEXP brand). “What is the danger of not having a speaker?” - you ask. It seems like such a small thing, and the computer works fine without it. But if it is impossible to initialize the video card, it will not be possible to identify and fix the problem.

If a problem is detected, the computer will emit a corresponding sound signal - a certain sequence of long or short squeaks. Using the instructions for the motherboard, you can decipher it, but which of us keeps such instructions? Therefore, in this article I have prepared for you tables with decoding of BIOS sound signals that will help you identify the problem and fix it.

Modern motherboards have a built-in system speaker.

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

2. How to find out the BIOS manufacturer

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

2.1. Method 1

“Identification” can be done in various ways, the simplest is look at the screen while loading. The manufacturer and BIOS version are usually indicated at the top. To capture this moment, press the Pause key on your keyboard. If instead of the necessary information you see only the motherboard manufacturer's splash screen, 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. This way it will be launched System Information utility, with which you can get all the information about the hardware configuration of your computer.

Launching the System Information utility

You can also launch it 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 out the BIOS manufacturer using CPU-Z

3. Decoding BIOS signals

After we have found out the BIOS type, we can begin to decipher the sound signals depending on the manufacturer. Let's look at the main ones in tables.

3.1. AMI BIOS - beeps

AMI BIOS (American Megatrends Inc.) since 2002 is the most popular manufacturer in the world. In all versions, 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:

No matter how trivial it may sound, 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 helps! However, if after the next reboot you hear squeaks 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. What do the other sounds mean? Let's look at the table:

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, a pause, another beep, another pause and two beeps.

4. The most popular BIOS sounds and their meaning

I could make for you a dozen more different tables with beep decoding, but I decided that it would be much more useful to pay attention to the most popular BIOS sound signals. So, what do users most often search for:

• one long two short BIOS beeps– this sound almost certainly does not bode well for anything good, namely problems with the video card. The first thing you need to check is whether the video card is fully inserted into the motherboard. Oh, by the way, how long have you been here? After all, one of the reasons for problems with loading may be banal dust that has clogged up in the cooler. But let's return to the problems with the video card. Try pulling it out and cleaning the contacts with an eraser. It would be a good idea to make sure there is no debris or foreign objects in the connectors. Still getting an error? Then the situation is more complicated, you will have to try to boot a computer with an integrated video camera (provided that it is on the motherboard). If it boots, it means that the problem is in the removed video card and you cannot do without replacing it.
• one long BIOS beep at startup– Possibly problems with RAM.
• 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, and try swapping the modules. Also possible. If the RAM modules are working, the computer will boot.
• 5 short BIOS beeps– the processor is faulty. A very unpleasant sound, isn't it? If this is the first time the processor has been installed, check its compatibility with the motherboard. If everything worked before, but now the computer beeps like crazy, then you need to check whether the contacts are clean and even.
• 4 long BIOS beeps– low speed or CPU fan stops. It needs to be either cleaned or replaced.
• 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 RAM problems, 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 many short– you need to count exactly how many short signals.
• The computer does not boot and there is no BIOS signal– the power supply is faulty, there is a processor performance problem, or the system speaker is missing (see above).

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

Attention! If you doubt your abilities, it is better to entrust diagnostics and repairs to professionals. There is no point in taking risks and then blaming the author of the article for something that is not his fault :)

1. To solve the problem it is necessary pull out the module from the connector, remove dust and insert back. The contacts can be carefully cleaned and wiped with alcohol. To clean the connector from dirt, it is convenient to use a dry toothbrush.
2. 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 plain sight.
3. Let me also remind you that any manipulations with the system unit should be performed only when power is off. Don't forget to remove static electricity. To do this, it will be enough to grasp the computer system unit with both hands.
4. Dont touch to the pins of the microcircuits.
5. Do not use metal and abrasive materials to clean the contacts of RAM modules or video cards. For this purpose, you can use a soft eraser.
6. Soberly evaluate your capabilities. If your computer is under warranty, it is better to use the services of service center specialists than to delve into the “brains” of the machine yourself.

If you have any questions, ask them in the comments to this article, we’ll sort it out!

1. What does the computer tell us when we turn it on? Is he saying something? Have you noticed that when you turn on your computer, you hear a beep? The computer wants to tell you that everything is fine, I’m booting, or if a sequence of many beeps and possibly non-stop signals indicates that the computer is not working properly. Based on these signals, you can understand and conduct, let’s say, a superficial diagnosis of the computer. Below are the tables of sound signals and the name of the manufacturer bios/ AWARD, AMI, IBM, AST, Phoenix, Compaq, DELL, Quadtel

What if there is no beep?

2. If there is no beep when you turn on the computer? There are several options why this could happen:
3. 1.) There may be no speaker through which your computer communicates post code beeps to you.
4. 2.) Bios is damaged.
5. 3.) In this case, you need to judge by other visual actions of your computer. Let's say, as an example, does it turn on at all? =)

If you don't get a beep when you turn on your computer, let's figure out why this happens? Write in the comment at the bottom of the page what actions does the computer perform when turned on? What errors occur when you turn it on? Describe in more detail in the comments and your message will be sent to my phone. I will answer your questions.

Help on how to understand the information in the tables below:

6. Beep codes are represented by a sequence of beeps. For example, 1-1-2 means 1 beep, pause, 1 beep, pause, and 2 beeps.

AWARD BIOS beeps

Signal	Meaning (Error Description)
1 short	The POST procedure has been completed, no errors were detected, and the system continues booting.
2 short	A non-critical error has occurred that can be corrected using the BIOS Setup settings. The signal may be accompanied by a message describing the error and a message prompting you to enter BIOS Setup.
3 long	Keyboard controller error. It is recommended to restart your computer. If the error occurs again, the problem lies with the motherboard.
1 short, 1 long	RAM error. It is recommended to restart the computer, remove the RAM modules from the slots, and insert them back. If the error repeats, you will need to replace the RAM modules.
1 long, 2 short
1 long, 3 short
1 long, 9 short	The error occurs if there are problems reading the BIOS or if the BIOS chip is faulty. Often, the solution to this problem is flashing the BIOS.
Repeating short	The power supply is faulty. The PSU needs to be replaced. The error also occurs when there is a short circuit in the power supply circuits.
Repeating long	RAM error. The signal may occur if the RAM modules are installed incorrectly (or one of the RAM modules is faulty)
Continuous	The power supply is faulty. The PSU needs to be replaced.
No signal	The power supply is faulty or not connected to the motherboard

AMI BIOS beeps

Signal	Meaning (error description)
1 short	POST completed, no errors found, system boot continues
2 short	RAM parity error. It is recommended to restart the computer, remove the RAM modules from the slots, and insert them back. If the error repeats, you will need to replace the RAM modules.
3 short	Error in the first 64 KB of RAM. It is recommended to restart the computer, remove the RAM modules from the slots, and insert them back. If the error repeats, you will need to replace the RAM modules.
4 short	The motherboard system timer is faulty. If the error appears every time you turn on the computer, you need to replace the motherboard.
5 short	Problems with the processor. It is recommended to restart your computer. If the problem persists, the CPU must be replaced.
6 short	Keyboard error. It is necessary to check the quality of the connection between the keyboard connector and the connector on the motherboard. The signal may occur if the keyboard or motherboard is faulty.
7 short	Motherboard error. It is recommended to restart your computer. If the problem persists, the system board must be replaced.
8 short	Video adapter not detected or video memory error. Check the quality of installation of the video card in the expansion slot. If the video card is integrated, the motherboard may need to be replaced.
9 short	BIOS checksum error. The signal may be accompanied by a message describing the error. The problem may be solved by updating (firmware) the BIOS contents.
10 short	Error writing to CMOS memory. It is recommended to restart your computer. If the problem persists, you need to replace the system board or CMOS chip
11 short	External cache memory error (this is the memory that is installed in the system board slots).
1 long 2 short
1 long 3 short	Video adapter not detected. The error may occur if the video adapter is not connected or is faulty. Check the quality of installation of the video card in the expansion slot. If the problem is not resolved, you will most likely need to replace the video card.
1 long 8 short	Video adapter not detected or video memory error. Check the quality of installation of the video card in the expansion slot. If the video card is integrated, the motherboard may need to be replaced. The signal may occur if a monitor is not connected to the video card.
No signals	The power supply is faulty or not connected to the motherboard.

IBM BIOS beeps

Signal	Meaning (error description)
1 short	Successful POST
1 beep and blank screen	Video system is faulty
2 short	Video system is faulty
3 long	Motherboard faulty (keyboard controller error), RAM faulty
1 long, 1 short	Motherboard is faulty
1 long, 2 short	Video system faulty (Mono/CGA)
1 long, 3 short	Video system (EGA/VGA) is faulty
Repeating short	Malfunctions related to the power supply or motherboard
Continuous	Problems with the power supply or motherboard
Absent	The power supply, motherboard, or speaker is faulty

AST BIOS beeps

Signal	Meaning (error description)
1 short	Error when checking processor registers. Processor failure
2 short	Keyboard controller buffer error. Keyboard controller malfunction.
3 short	Keyboard controller reset error. The keyboard controller or system board is faulty.
4 short	Keyboard communication error.
5 short	Keyboard error.
6 short	System board error.
9 short	BIOS ROM checksum mismatch. The BIOS ROM chip is faulty.
10 short	System timer error. The system timer chip is faulty.
11 short	System logic chip (chipset) error.
12 short	Power management register error in non-volatile memory.
1 long	DMA controller error 0. The channel 0 DMA controller chip is faulty.
1 long, 1 short	DMA controller error 1. The channel 1 DMA controller chip is faulty.
1 long, 2 short	Frame retrace suppression error. The video adapter may be faulty.
1 long, 3 short	Error in video memory. The memory of the video adapter is faulty.
1 long, 4 short	Video adapter error. The video adapter is faulty.
1 long, 5 short	Memory error 64K.
1 long, 6 short	Failed to load interrupt vectors. BIOS could not load interrupt vectors into memory
1 long, 7 short	The video subsystem failed to initialize.
1 long, 8 short	Video memory error.

Phoenix BIOS beeps

Signal	Meaning (error description)
1-1-2	Error during processor test. The processor is faulty. Replace the processor
1-1-3	Error writing/reading data to/from CMOS memory.
1-1-4	An error was detected while calculating the checksum of the BIOS contents.
1-2-1
1-2-2 or 1-2-3	DMA controller initialization error.
1-3-1	Error in initializing the RAM regeneration circuit.
1-3-3 or 1-3-4	Error initializing the first 64 KB of RAM.
1-4-1	Motherboard initialization error.
1-4-2
1-4-3
1-4-4	Error writing/reading to/from one of the I/O ports.
2-1-1	An error was detected when reading/writing bit 0 (in hexadecimal) of the first 64 KB of RAM
2-1-2	An error was detected when reading/writing the 1st bit (in hexadecimal) of the first 64 KB of RAM
2-1-3	An error was detected when reading/writing the 2nd bit (in hexadecimal) of the first 64 KB of RAM
2-1-4	An error was detected when reading/writing the 3rd bit (in hexadecimal) of the first 64 KB of RAM
2-2-1	An error was detected when reading/writing the 4th bit (in hexadecimal) of the first 64 KB of RAM
2-2-2	An error was detected when reading/writing the 5th bit (in hexadecimal) of the first 64 KB of RAM
2-2-3	An error was detected when reading/writing the 6th bit (in hexadecimal) of the first 64 KB of RAM
2-2-4	An error was detected when reading/writing the 7th bit (in hexadecimal) of the first 64 KB of RAM
2-3-1	An error was detected while reading/writing the 8th bit (in hexadecimal) of the first 64 KB of RAM
2-3-2	An error was detected when reading/writing the 9th bit (in hexadecimal) of the first 64 KB of RAM
2-3-3	An error was detected while reading/writing the 10th bit (in hexadecimal) of the first 64 KB of RAM
2-3-4	An error was detected when reading/writing the 11th bit (in hexadecimal) of the first 64 KB of RAM
2-4-1	An error was detected while reading/writing the 12th bit (in hexadecimal) of the first 64 KB of RAM
2-4-2	An error was detected when reading/writing the 13th bit (in hexadecimal) of the first 64 KB of RAM
2-4-3	An error was detected while reading/writing the 14th bit (in hexadecimal) of the first 64 KB of RAM
2-4-4	An error was detected while reading/writing the 15th bit (in hexadecimal) of the first 64 KB of RAM
3-1-1	Error initializing the second DMA channel.
3-1-2 or 3-1-4	Error initializing the first DMA channel.
3-2-4
3-3-4	Error initializing video memory.
3-4-1	Serious problems arose when trying to access the monitor.
3-4-2	The video card BIOS cannot be initialized.
4-2-1	Error initializing the system timer.
4-2-2	Testing is complete.
4-2-3	Keyboard controller initialization error.
4-2-4	Critical error when the CPU enters protected mode.
4-3-1	Error initializing RAM.
4-3-2	Error initializing the first timer.
4-3-3	Error initializing the second timer.
4-4-1	Error initializing one of the serial ports.
4-4-2	Parallel port initialization error.
4-4-3	Error initializing math coprocessor.
Long, continuous beeps	The motherboard is faulty.
Siren sound from high to low frequency	The video card is faulty, check the electrolytic capacitors for leaks or replace everything with new ones that are known to be good.
Continuous signal	The CPU cooler is not connected (faulty).

Compaq BIOS beeps

Signal	Meaning (error description)
1 short
1 long + 1 short	BIOS CMOS memory checksum error. The ROM battery may have run out.
2 short	Global error.
1 long + 2 short	Error initializing video card. Check that the video card is installed correctly.
7 beeps (1 long, 1 s, 1?, 1 short, pause, 1 long, 1 short, 1 short)	AGP video card malfunction. Check that the installation is correct.
1 long constant	RAM error, try rebooting.
1 short + 2 long	RAM malfunction. Reboot via Reset.

DELL BIOS beeps

Quadtel BIOS beeps

I repeat, each BIOS manufacturer has its own sound signals

7. At the end of the article I would like to offer you a computer equipment repair service in Podolsk

Today I encountered such a problem, the speaker gives out “One long and three short BIOS signals”, the most interesting thing is that similar signals have been encountered before, but usually after 2-3 minutes of computer operation, the system still booted. To be more precise, the system is already loading, this can be heard from the loading of the hard drive, and the sound greeting of the Windows 8 operating system, but the monitor does not want to show the picture.

This problem definitely had to be solved by “opening” the system unit, since one long and three short AMI BIOS signals means problems with the video card.

And so let's get started:

1. Disconnect all wires from the system unit and place it in a place convenient for “Opening”. The figure shows a video card with a disconnected wire leading to the monitor.

2. Open the cover of the system unit, usually there are two bolts on the left wall.

3. Unscrew the video card and turn off the additional power (see Figure).

4. Alternatively, connect it to another slot, or install a new video card. You can, of course, try to clean the computer from dust, sometimes it helps. Since you have decided to get into the system unit, I would not put off cleaning it.

4. Connect the wires and turn on the computer.

I did not close the cover of the system unit, this procedure is often erroneous, but in the end the video card worked. I didn’t dig around and figure out further why such a problem arose, since I work mainly on a laptop.

If it doesn't help:

1. Try changing the wire from the monitor to the video card, or better yet, plug it into the video card.
2. If the video card has two connectors on the outside of the case, plug the wire into the second one.
3. Take your video card to a friend for testing. Let him put him in his place.
4. Remove dust from the cooler and wipe the video card with a cloth.
5. Check the additional power from the power supply to the video card. Perhaps there is not enough power.

Good luck! By the way, in Award BIOS, 1 long and three short beeps mean the same thing - a problem with the video card.

You start your computer and you hear long, repeating BIOS beeps, but the computer does not boot. What is the reason for this situation, and what is the best thing to do if this happens? The answer to this question largely depends on the type of BIOS installed in your computer.

First of all, let's agree that by the term “repeating” we mean sounds that are repeated constantly, countless times, just like the waiting tones on a telephone receiver, and not any specific number. It should be borne in mind that long BIOS beeps, unlike short ones, do not tend to be repeated a significant number of times, so if long beeps are repeated, say, more than four times, then it becomes clear that we are dealing with a long repeating beep. and not with someone else.

If your computer has a motherboard with an Award BIOS, then long repeating ones indicate a faulty RAM. In many cases, however, the problem is not a physical defect in the dynamic memory chips, but rather poor or incorrect installation of the memory modules in the slots. Turn off the computer, check the installation of modules and try to start the PC again. If you again hear long, repeating beeps, then the memory chips will most likely need to be replaced.

Long, endlessly repeating beeps in the Phoenix BIOS have a slightly different meaning. If you own a computer with a similar BIOS and after starting the POST procedure you hear sounds of this kind, then they mean a malfunction of the motherboard. This is a fairly serious error, and the only thing you can try is to restart your computer again in the hope that the error will go away. If this does not help, then you can try to check the reliability of the connection of the power cables coming from the system unit to the motherboard. If all your attempts to restore the functionality of your personal computer on your own are unsuccessful, then all you have to do is replace the motherboard or take the PC to a service center.