Embedded Bios Beep Codes - Intel 440BX Manual

5.12

Embedded BIOS Beep Codes

Embedded BIOS tests much of the system hardware early in POST before messages can be
displayed on the screen. When system failures are encountered at these early stages, POST uses
beep codes (a sequence of tones on the speaker) to identify the source of the error.
The following is a comprehensive list of POST beep codes for the system BIOS. BIOS extensions,
such as VGA ROMs and SCSI adapter ROMs, may use their own beep codes, including short/long
sequences, or possibly beep codes that sound like the ones below. When diagnosing a system
failure, remove these adapters if possible before making a final determination of the actual POST
test that failed.
Mnemonic Code
POST_BEEP_REFRESH
POST_BEEP_PARITY
POST_BEEP_BASE64KB
POST_BEEP_TIMER
POST_BEEP_CPU
POST_BEEP_GATEA20
POST_BEEP_DMA
POST_BEEP_VIDEO
POST_BEEP_KEYBOARD
POST_BEEP_SHUTDOWN
POST_BEEP_CACHE
POST_BEEP_BOARD
POST_BEEP_LOWMEM
POST_BEEP_EXTMEM
POST_BEEP_CMOS
POST_BEEP_ADDRESS_LINE
POST_BEEP_DATA_LINE
POST_BEEP_INTERRUPT
POST_BEEP_PASSWORD
®
Intel 440Bx Scalable Performance Board Development Kit Manual
Beep Count Description of Problem
1 Memory refresh is not working.
2 Parity error found in 1st 64KB of memory.
3 Memory test of 1st 64KB failed.
4 T1 timer test failed.
5 CPU test failed.
6 Gate A20 test failed.
7 DMA page/base register test failed.
8 Video controller test failed.
9 Keyboard test failed.
10 CMOS shutdown register test failed.
11 External cache test failed.
12 General board initialization failed.
13 Exhaustive low memory test failed.
14 Exhaustive extended memory test failed.
15 CMOS restart byte test failed.
16 Address line test failed.
17 Data line test failed.
18 Interrupt controller test failed.
1 Incorrect password used to access SETUP.
BIOS Quick Reference
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