4
Error Messages and Beep Codes
What This Chapter Contains
4.1 BIOS Front-panel Power LED Codes.................................................... 65
4.2 BIOS Beep Codes ............................................................................ 66
4.3 BIOS Error Messages ....................................................................... 66
4.4 Port 80h POST Codes ....................................................................... 67
4.1
BIOS Front-panel Power LED Codes
The front-panel power LED blinks off and on to display messages. For example, the
power LED is on when the system is powered on, and blinks off for 0.5 second when
processor initialization is complete. In addition, whenever a recoverable error occurs
during POST, the BIOS causes the front-panel power LED to blink an error message
describing the problem (see Table 31).
Table 30. Front-panel Power LED Blink Codes
Type
Processor initialization complete
POST complete
BIOS update in progress
Video error
Memory error
Thermal warning
Pattern
On when system powers up, then off for 0.5 second.
On when system powers up, then off for 0.5 second.
Off when update begins, then on for 0.5 second, then off for 0.5
second; pattern repeats until BIOS update is complete.
On-off (0.5 second each) two times, then 3.0 second pause (off)
between on-off blink pattern; repeat entire pattern (two on-off
blinks and pause) until system is powered off.
On-off (0.5 second each) three times, then 3.0 second pause (off)
between on-off blink pattern; repeat entire pattern (three on-off
blinks and 3-second pause) until system is powered off.
On-off (0.5 second each) four times, then 3.0 second pause (off)
between on-off blink pattern; repeat entire pattern (four on-off
blinks and 3-second pause) until 16
th
on blink, then end.
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