Power-On Self Test (Post) Beep Codes - IBM eServer 240 xSeries User Reference Manual

Power-on self test (POST) beep codes

The successful completion of POST is indicated by one beep and the appearance
of the first screen of your operating system or application program. More than one
beep indicates that POST detected an error.
Beep codes are sounded in a series of beeps. For example, a 1–2–4 beep code
sounds like one beep, a pause, two consecutive beeps, another pause, and four
more consecutive beeps.
POST beep code descriptions
The following list contains more detailed descriptions of the possible types of beeps
that your server might emit.
No beeps
Continuous beep
One short beep
Two short beeps
Three short beeps
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IBM xSeries User's Reference
If no beep occurs after your server successfully completes POST (that is,
after the System POST Complete (OK) light on the operator information
panel is illuminated), have the system serviced.
This indicates that your startup (boot) microprocessor has failed, or your
system board or speaker subsystem might contain a failing component. If
the system continues through POST with no errors, have the system
serviced. If no video appears, the startup microprocessor has failed; replace
the startup microprocessor
Note: If the server has only one microprocessor installed, that
microprocessor is installed in microprocessor connector U5 and is the
startup (boot) microprocessor. If two microprocessors are installed,
the microprocessor installed in U6 is the startup microprocessor and
the microprocessor installed in U5 is the application microprocessor
If one beep occurs after your server successfully completes POST (that is,
after the System POST Complete (OK) light on the operator information
panel is illuminated), then POST has no configuration or functional errors to
report. One beep also occurs after your server completes POST if you enter
an incorrect power-on password.
This beep combination indicates that POST encountered an error. The
Configuration/Setup Utility program will display additional information; follow
the instructions displayed. See "Power-on self-test (POST) messages" on
page 112 for explanations of any POST error messages.
This beep combination indicates a system memory error. This combination
occurs only if the video BIOS cannot display the error message. Replace
the failing memory module.