Outlaw Computer Services

Computer P.O.S.T. code error beeps, what they are, what they mean.Non bootable computer that's beeping when turned on? Here's why...

When you start your computer, it does what is know as a POST test, Power On Self Test, this is the computers way of making sure everything is plugged in connected, and (seemingly working or not) If it finds an error, in say the video card, the memory, the hard drive ect., it may fail to boot, showing nothing on the screen at all, but it may sit there and repeatedly beep at you.This is very similar to the way your vehicle may turn the CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON for certain errors and with a code reader, you can kinda narrow the issue down, here no code reader needed, just listen to the beeps!.

For a demo of this check out this YouTube video...

https://youtu.be/cJPNZsnUBFg

Now as I mentioned in the video different brands of BIOS have different beeps indicating different types of errors, heres a common list of brands and errors, and what they mean:

Please note AMI,Phoenix,and Award are used in alot of computers, and certain versions in certain brands may be different.

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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.

Beep Code Descriptions
1 short DRAM refresh failure.
2 short Parity circuit failure.
3 short Base 64 K RAM failure.
4 short System timer failure.
5 short Process failure.
6 short Keyboard controller Gate A20 error.
7 short Virtual mode exception error.
8 short Display memory Read/Write test failure.
9 short ROM BIOS checksum failure.
10 short CMOS shutdown Read/Write error.
11 short Cache memory error.
1 long, 3 short Conventional/Extended memory failure.
1 long, 8 short Display/Retrace test failed.
two-tone siren Low CPU fan speed, voltage level issue.
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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
1 long, 2 short Indicates a video error has occurred and the BIOS cannot initialize the video screen to display any additional information.
1 long, 3 short Video card not detected (reseat video card) or bad video card.
Beeps repeating endlessly. RAM problem.
Repeated high frequency beeps while PC is running. Overheating processor (CPU).
Repeated beeps alternating high & low frequency. Issue with the processor (CPU), possibly damaged.
If any other correctable hardware issues are found, the BIOS displays a message.
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Dell beep codes
Beep Code Description
1 beep BIOS ROM corruption or failure.
2 beeps Memory (RAM) not detected.
3 beeps Motherboard failure.
4 beeps Memory (RAM) failure.
5 beeps CMOS battery failure.
6 beeps Video card failure.
7 beeps Bad processor (CPU).
For other Dell beep codes, please refer to Dell's beep codes and PSA diagnostics chart page.
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IBM BIOS beep codes
Below are general 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
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.
Continuous beep No power, loose card, or short.
Repeating short beep No power, loose card, or short.
1 long and 1 short beep Motherboard issue.
1 long and 2 short beeps Video (Mono/CGA display circuitry) issue.
1 long and 3 short beeps. Video (EGA) display circuitry.
3 long beeps Keyboard or keyboard card error.
1 beep, blank or incorrect display. Video display circuitry.
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.
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Phoenix BIOS beep codes
Below are the beep codes for Phoenix BIOS Q3.07 or 4.x.

Beep Code Description and what to check
1-1-1-1 Unconfirmed beep code. Reseat RAM chips or replace RAM chips as possible solution.
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.
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 Autosize DRAM.
1-3-3-3 Clear 512 K base RAM.
1-3-4-1 Test 512 base address lines.
1-3-4-3 Test 512 K 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 Enable keyboard.
2-2-3-1 Test for unexpected interrupts.
2-2-3-3 Display prompt Press F2 to enter SETUP.
2-2-4-1 Test RAM between 512 and 640 k.
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.
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 CMOS 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.
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.
two-tone siren Low CPU fan speed, voltage level issue.

8 Tips to optimize Windows 7, 8/8.1, and 10

(1) Remove resource hogs in Task Manager
Hit CTRL-ALT-DEL

Anything that seems to be using alot of CPU,memory, ect, ricght click it, and END TASK, consider
using another comparable program for that task.

(2) Optimize Windows startup programs
These are programs that startup everytime you start the computer, and effect the boot up time of your
computer, and also alot of those programs continue to run, using CPU, and memory resources in the background.

Hit CTRL-ALT-DEL , TASK MANAGER, click the START UP tab, any programs in there that have a mid or high impact
on start up, think about removing it , UNLESS its an anti-virus program (consider another AV program)
or something required.

For example:
If you don't change your graphics modes, colors, resolutions ect, often, you don't need
IGFXTRAYMODULE, thats the tray module for computers with Intel graphics cards.Unless you need to
switch graphics modes, resolutions ect, often, no need to have it there, you can do that in 30 seconds
from control panel :)

(3) Remove unused browser Extensions and plug-ins. Having alot of extensions and plugins that aren't used can
have a major impact on your browsers load time, and performance.

(4) Uninstall unused programs.Having programs that you rarely or never use anymore can often leave
registry entries, and system files like OCX and DLL files that can slow your system down.Uninstall them
if no longer used.

(5) Delete temporary files. Flushing your browsers cache on occassion can speed up your web surfing. Deleting
Windows temporary files can speed up your system as well. Windows is constantly using temporary files for
various purposes, most notably its "page" file, a file used as temporary storage by the OS itself that is
constantly changing.Flushing this file can often speed up system performance. The easiest way to do this is use
the Disk Cleanup app, search for "disk cleanup", then "Free up disk space by deleting unessesary files".
This will allow you to delete temporary files, logs, ect. that are just wasting space.

(6) If your computer is a laptop adjust your power plan.Having a low use power plan can extend your battry life,
but it can also seriously limit your computers performance.Adjust the power plan to "Balanced" or "High performance"
for the best performance, if you run on battery later, you can always change it to conserve battery life, then change
back when your back on power.

(7) Scan your system regularly for viruses and malware. Viruses and spyware/malware are notorious system resource hogs,
and a serious threat to your safety and security.

(8) Windows trouble shooter - This internal tool can find system errors like missing DLL files, misconfigered programs
and more that can slow your system down.It can be found in the CONTROL PANEL, in the search bar, top right, type
"system maintenance", then TROUBLESHOOTING. If any issues are found it will let you know.

Outlaw Computer Services has a few HP 8100 desktop systems left! $190

They include a keyboard, and mouse, they do NOT have a wireless controller built in, but we have installed one in one of the USB ports, so you have wired, and wireless connections, they do NOT include monitors, mics, or speakers, just keyboards and a mouse.

These are MS recertified systems, they may have minor cosmetic damage at most, scratches on case ect, but they work 100%, but they are 100% with legal Windows installs of Windows 10 Pro.

Processor 3.2 GHz Core i5-650
RAM 8 GB SDRAM DDR3
Hard Drive 1 TB mechanical_hard_drive
Graphics Coprocessor Intel Integrated Graphics
Number of USB 2.0 Ports 8
Operating System Windows 10 Pro
Processor Brand Intel
Processor Count 2
Computer Memory Type DDR3 SDRAM
Hard Drive Interface Serial ATA
Preconfig'd with Windows 10 Pro, AVG FREE anti virus, Google Chrome as default browser.