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BIOS ( Basic Input and Output System ) - is software stored in a Read-Only Memory (ROM)
chip
on the motherboard (CMOS). It controls systems devices and test
memory. It allows you to configure specific parameters about the hardware in
your
computer such as time, date, hard drive parameters and other device
settings.
Beeps are emitted from a computer during the
boot
process when some problem is encountered and can be used to
troubleshoot
a dead computer. They indicate problems such as bad memory, bad
keyboard
or bad motherboard. Usually if you hear beeps there is something
real
wrong and you should immediately turn off the computer and perform some
troubleshooting.
If experienced, and you wish more information on
Clearing CMOS, Flashing your BIOS visit:
www.flashbios.org
Checksum
Failure | CMOS Display Mismatch |
Error Codes/Beeps | Entering BIOS/CMOS
Checksum failure:
Explanation: The read-only memory (ROM) containing the BIOS
program (which is what is running when you turn on the PC and what
generates this error) uses a checksum value as a double-check that the
ROM code is correct. This checksum is compared against the values in the
ROM each time the PC is booted and if there is a mismatch, this code is
generated.
 This error is not the same as a CMOS Checksum Error,
which refers to corrupted values of the CMOS settings, the ones you set
through the BIOS setup program. This error means the contents of the
BIOS code itself are damaged.
Diagnosis: The BIOS ROM chip on the motherboard is probably
faulty. It could also be another component on the motherboard.
CMOS display type mismatch:
Explanation: The system has detected that the type of video
card you have in the PC is not the same as the one you told the system
you had.
Diagnosis: The BIOS setting that controls the display type for
the PC is set incorrectly. Very rarely, there could be some other
bizarre explanation for this problem.
POST Beeping Error General Codes
- Bad Motherboard - 1 long and 1 short beep
- Disk drive related problem / Video card problem - 1 short
beep
then nothing happens
- Bad video card - 1 long and 2 short beeps
- Bad power supply - 1) continuous beeps, 2) non-stop short
beeps
- Bad memory - 3 short beeps
These codes DO vary from one manufacturer to
another. Almost all computers list the appropriate codes in the
User's manual under technical information or the troubleshooting
section, so be sure to check the manual and verify what the codes mean.
If no beeps are heard and no display is on the
screen,
its most likely the power supply. Check for Keyboard lights or
for
hard drive/floppy drive lights. If lights come on then power
supply
is good.
Next, inspect the motherboard for loose
components.
A loose or missing CPU, BIOS chip, Crystal Oscillator, or Chipset chip
will cause the motherboard not to function. If you get lights
then
it could be one of the I/O cards. Try removing each card one at a
time
and restarting the computer.
Error Codes for - AMI, Award, Compaq, Gateway,
IBM, Phoenix,
BIOS's
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AMI
AMI Beep Codes
Except for beep code #8, these codes are always fatal.
1 beep Refresh failure
- try reseating the memory, if the error still occurs,
replace
the memory
2 beeps Parity error
- try reseating the memory, if the error still
occurs,
replace the memory
3 beeps Base 64K memory failure
- try reseating the memory, if the error still occurs,
replace
the memory
4 beeps Timer not operational, system board bad
5 beeps Processor error, system board bad
6 beeps 8042 - gate A20 failure, try reseating the
keyboard controller
chip
7 beeps Processor exception interrupt error, system
board bad
8 beeps Display memory video card read/write failure
error, replace
video memory or video card
9 beeps ROM checksum error, faulty BIOS chip(s), must
replace them
10 beeps CMOS shutdown register read/write error, system
board
bad
11 beeps Cache memory bad
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Award
Award BIOS Beep codes
One Long and Two Short Beeps Video Error
Two Short Beeps Any Non-Fatal Error
One Short Beep No Error During Post
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Phoenix
Phoenix BIOS Beep codes
These codes are presented in sets of beeps, for instance
1-2-2-3
means one beep followed by 2 beeps then 2 more beeps then 3 beeps
- 1-2-2-3 BIOS ROM checksum
- 1-3-1-1 Test DRAM refresh
- 1-3-1-3 Test 8742 Keyboard Controller
- 1-3-4-1 RAM failure on address line xxxx
- 1-3-4-3 RAM failure on data bits xxx of low byte of memory
- 1-4-1-1 RAM failure on data bits xxxx of high byte of
memory
bus
- 2-1-2-3 Check ROM copyright notice
- 2-1-3-1 Test for unexpected interrupts
- 1-2 .......Search for option ROMs
- 1 ...........One short beep before boot, normal
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Gateway
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Beeps
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Error Message
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Description
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| 1 |
Refresh Failure |
The memory refresh circuitry on the motherboard is faulty. |
| 2 |
ECC Error |
Error Checking and Correction (ECC) is supported on this
product. |
| 3 |
Base 64 KB Memory Failure |
Memory Failure in the first 64 kilobytes (KB). |
| 4 |
Timer Not Operational |
Memory Failure in the first 64 KB, or Timer 1 on the
motherboard is not functioning. |
| 5 |
Processor Error |
Ther processor on the motherboard generated an error. |
| 6 |
8042 - Gate A20 Failure |
The keyboard controller, 8042, may be bad. The basic
input/output system (BIOS) cannot switch to protected mode. |
| 7 |
Processor Exception Interrupt Error |
The processor generated an exception interrupt. |
| 8 |
Display Memory Read/Write Error |
The computer video adapter is either missing or its memory is
faulty. This is not a fatal error. |
| 9 |
ROM Checksum Error |
Read-only memory (ROM) checksum value does not match the
value encoded in BIOS. |
| 10 |
CMOS Shutdown Register Rd/Wrt Error |
The shutdown register for complementary metal-oxide
semiconductor (CMOS) random access memory (RAM) failed. |
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Entering BIOS
You would enter the BIOS for the following reasons:
- To change the a hard drive designation
- To enable or disable com ports
- To change parameters of the com ports or parallel ports
- To change the power on password
- To allow the BIOS to change the amount of memory installed
You should only enter the BIOS immediately after booting the
computer
and never from within an operating system (i.e. Windows). On some
computers
you can enter the BIOS from a DOS prompt.
Several ways can be used to enter the BIOS/CMOS:
The video monitor will usually say on the bottom of the
screen
just as the computer is turned on, which key to use.
The BIOS information is stored in the CMOS hardware section
of
the motherboard and the contents are maintained by applying constant
electrical
current using a CMOS battery.
to enter the BIOS during boot up hold down one of the
following
keys:
- Hold down the <Del> key
- Hold down the <F1> key
- Hold down the <F10> key
To enter the BIOS from a DOS prompt...( ...NOT from inside
windows)
- <Alt><Cntrl><Esc>
- <Alt><Cntrl><Enter>
- <Cntrl> <Alt> <A>
- <Cntrl> <Alt> <S>
Some manufacturers have their own way for entering BIOS as
shown
below...
- Acer - Ctrl+Alt+Esc
- Compaq - F10
- Compaq Presario - Press <Alt> <Ctrl>
<Esc>
at boot when you see the "Compaq" log in big letters
- Dell - F1 or Del.
- Gateway 2000 - F1
- Hewlett Packard
- F1
- IBM
- Older Models - In order to get into the configuration
of
the IBM setup screen (CMOS) screen you need to hold down both mouse
buttons during boot-up.
- Aptiva - Press F1
- Leading Edge
- Fortiva 5000 - <Cntrl> <Alt> <A> or
<Cntrl> <Alt> <S>
- NEC - F2
- Packard Bell - F1 or F2
- Sharp Laptop 9020 - F2
- Sony - F3, then F2, or F1
- Tandon computers - Hold down the
<Esc>
key after turning on power
- Toshiba Laptops - Toshiba Utility
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