Beginners Guides: Computer Error Beep Codes
Since
I'm the "computer expert" among my friends and family, I often get those
late night phone calls and e-mails asking me what's wrong with their
computer. I'll be honest. It does get quite frustrating and annoying at times
when people start off with "What did I do?" I understand
that they're only asking me because they trust I can do a good job, and
they really don't have anyone else to turn to.
When I
start fixing a computer, 99% of the problems I see are software related.
Most of the time it is you, the user that wrecks,
breaks, crashes, or kills your computer. Sorry,
I have to be blunt about it, but it's true. New processors, hard drives, video cards, memory
and motherboards are just inanimate objects we can lay blame to.
Most of the time the main problem with these broken computers I tend
to are due to too many programs loading up at start up. All those little programs
add up, and sometimes eat up all the system resources.
Every now
and then though, I do see a hardware problem and the first thing I do when I
turn the computer on is listen to how it beeps.
When the
computer makes those funny sound via the system speaker, it's not doing
it because it wants to be heard. The computer is trying to talk to
the operator/technician and tell them what's wrong. In testing computer components on and
off for the last three to four years, I find that almost all motherboards
adhere to the IBM BIOS standard beep codes... I think a few OEM's have
developed their own or use Phoenix or AMI beep codes, but for the most part motherboard
manufacturers uses the IBM based ones because they are grandfathered in.
| Beep Code: |
Description of Problem: |
| No Beeps |
Short, No power, Bad CPU/MB, Loose
Peripherals |
| One Beep |
Everything is normal and Computer POSTed
fine |
| Two Beeps |
POST/CMOS Error |
| One Long Beep, One Short Beep |
Motherboard Problem |
| One Long Beep, Two Short Beeps |
Video Problem |
| One Long Beep, Three Short Beeps |
Video Problem |
| Three Long Beeps |
Keyboard Error |
| Repeated Long Beeps |
Memory Error |
| Continuous Hi-Lo Beeps |
CPU Overheating |
So as you can see, if your computer doesn't
start up and starts beeping away like a mime you can start the process of
figuring out what is wrong by stopping for a second and listening. From a single
beep which tells you everything is okay, to three long beeps which indicate a keyboard
error to the siren like Hi-Lo beeps that tell you the CPU is overheating
- listening to your computer is
good!
As you become more and more experienced with
computers, friends and family will naturally start to bring sick computers
to your door to fix. When that happens, or when your own machine suddenly stops
working, try listening to it first and see if it tells you what's wrong. If you are
able to diagnose the problem just by listening to it, you will surely impress all your computer
friends!
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