Deciphering computer BIOS signals. AWARD BIOS - beeps (error codes)

It often happens that even an experienced system administrator forgets BIOS codes and signals (especially since new motherboards are already equipped with UEFI), let alone a non-professional. And knowing the signals will help you quickly, and in everyday cases, often free of charge, solve the problem with a computer or laptop that won’t start.

This is what BIOS chips from AWARD AMI and Phoenix look like.

By the way, for reference: BIOS is Basic Input-Output system or in Russian speaking, a basic input-output system. In other words, this is a low-level program that is tightly embedded into the chip of your computer's motherboard. The BIOS loads when you turn on the computer and is responsible for initializing its hardware components, checking their functionality and startup correctly. Then, the bootloader program starts, launching the operating system Windows, Linux, or whatever you have installed there...

Here we need to make a small digression and tell you that the signals of this very BIOS may differ depending on the manufacturer. Let's look at the most popular options, there will be three of them - AMI BIOS, AWARD BIOS, Phoenix BIOS.

Below the cut is a table describing BIOS errors.

AMI BIOS beeps

In all versions of AMI BIOS, the successful completion of self-test is one short beep, after which the installed OS is loaded. I indicated other AMI BIOS sound signals in the table:

AWARD BIOS beeps

With the correct post-test signal, everything is the same as in the previous version - one short AWARD BIOS beep means that everything is OK.

The remaining signals are slightly different - look at the table:

Phoenix BIOS beeps

The third version of signals from Phoenix. BIOS from this manufacturer is becoming increasingly rare, but still.

Here it must be said that with him everything is not the same as with the previous two. Yes, yes, the guys decided to show off and do something different from everyone else; their signals are not double, but triple. In practice, this only means that, for example, a signal about problems with power supply to the video card will look like three short beeps, a pause, three short beeps, a pause, then 4 short beeps. In the table I will write them as 3-3-4. So, let's go...

Error codes from Phoenix:

I would just like to add that in case of self-repair of a PC or laptop always disconnect it from the power supply and only then you can calmly climb inside, armed with a screwdriver and other necessary tools.

In the next article I will talk about UEFI. What is it, why did she come to us and other interesting points.

P.S. In some cases with memory errors, it helps to remove the memory sticks from the slots, wipe the contacts of the RAM boards with a regular soft eraser, and the memory is back in service! If the memory is not burned out but simply malfunctions, then you can also try swapping the boards with RAM in places across banks, provided that the memory itself that you are swapping is the same.

P.P.S. At the end of this article I simply post tables of codes for three BIOSes in the form of pictures. They can be used as a cheat sheet and saved to your phone, tablet or computer.

Cheat sheets describing BIOS signals for printing

It seems that I wrote everything I wanted to write. I tried clearly and without water, as always. If you have any questions, I answer in the comments.

Many motherboards come with a built-in system speaker on board. When you turn on the computer, one short signal usually sounds, which indicates that there are no errors, as a result of which the equipment continues to operate and the operating system loads. The sound signal becomes an integral part of the successful startup of the PC and after a while the user simply stops noticing it.

But, unfortunately, it may happen that when you turn on the computer, a non-standard signal will be heard or it will be completely absent. This can indicate either partial or complete PC malfunction due to problems in various hardware. In order for the user to find out exactly where the problem occurred, BIOS technical signals are provided, which will help identify the malfunction of a specific computer module.

What is BIOS

Before moving on to considering the features of certain types of BIOS, it is worth telling what they are in general. Basic Input Output System is a program written on a chip located on the motherboard itself.

The BIOS is responsible for all low-level hardware settings. Without it, the computer simply will not know the principle of its operation: where to boot from, what functions of the motherboard need to be activated, what the rotation speed of the coolers should be, and much more.

BIOS tasks and functions

• When the computer boots up, the base software checks the CMOS for user settings.
• Interrupt handlers and device drivers are loaded.
• The registers and power management are initialized, as well as self-testing when power is applied.
• After this, system settings are displayed on the screen and bootable devices are determined.
• The final stage of preparing the equipment for loading the system is the initialization of the bootstrap program.

AMI BIOS

The abbreviation AMI comes from the name of the company American Megatrends Incorporated, which is the owner of this development.

The main menu is presented with a convenient list of settings in two columns.

On this settings tab, you can change the system date, as well as select the order of boot devices.

Depending on the specific model and BIOS version, the location of the items may differ slightly. The AMI BIOS menu is quite simple, and it will be difficult to get lost in it. Detailed information about the location of menu items and settings can be found on the manufacturer's website or in the documentation included with your motherboard.

AMI signals

The developments of each BIOS manufacturer have their own unique system alerts that will help determine the malfunction. Below are the ami bios sound signals with a description of the problems and their possible solutions.

Designations in the table:

• “k” - short BIOS signals;
• “d” - long BIOS signals.

AWARD BIOS

AWARD BIOS, owned by Award Software International Inc, California, is visually similar to the American Megatrends Incorporated software, but has a number of its own features.

The AWARD main menu is also a two-column list.

A user-friendly interface allows you to easily make the required settings.

AWARD signals

Although Award BIOS signals are less varied, this will not interfere with accurately determining the malfunction.

Designations in the table:

• “k” - short BIOS signals;
• “d” - long BIOS signals.

In the Award BIOS structure, long signals are succinctly combined with short ones, which greatly simplifies their recognition.

Phoenix BIOS

The Phoenix interface is represented by horizontal tabs, which provide extensive options for customizing the equipment.

Phoenix bios signals are more difficult to perceive than previous representatives. It is worth paying special attention to in order to avoid a false “diagnosis”. All Phoenix bios alerts are short signals with a certain frequency.

In the table below of the main signals, the symbol “-” means a pause.

It is worth remembering that in this type of BIOS there are no long signals at all, thereby complicating the task of identifying errors. In most cases, the solution to problems related to RAM is to check and replace faulty modules one by one. For more detailed checking of the computer for errors, POST cards are used, which can provide comprehensive information about faults.

Modern BIOS replacement

Nowadays, the UEFI system is becoming increasingly popular, replacing the usual BIOS. It has a clearer graphical interface with mouse support and has many advantages, some of which are increased loading speed, support for new hardware, and new data protection methods.

Hearing a BIOS signal (1 long beep), the user usually becomes wary. After all, as you know, in most BIOSes the message about the successful completion of hardware testing sounds somewhat different, although it is similar - one signal, but a short one. Is there any cause for concern in this case? Practice shows that in most cases - Yes.

First of all, it is worth defining the concept of “long signal”. In many cases, one continuous sound can be considered long. If you hear a similar sound and you have an Award BIOS installed, then this means that the power supply is faulty. In the case of Phoenix BIOS, in a similar situation, there is a malfunction of the CPU cooler fan. In the Compaq BIOS, this type of sound indicates a problem with the RAM.

However, most often the user may encounter a slightly different situation, when there is only a long but time-limited signal. This type of signal is used by many BIOS manufacturers to encode error messages.

However, one long BIOS beep is a sound that is often used for more than just signaling errors. For example, you can find BIOS versions from the well-known manufacturer American Megatrends, in which the BIOS signal 1 long beep is used to notify that tests have completed normally, instead of the usually used short beep. A similar approach is also used in the Mylex 386 BIOS. This factor should also be kept in mind, especially if you are dealing with a certain computer for the first time.

In AST BIOS, one long squeak has a completely different meaning, namely, an error detected when testing the first channel of the DMA controller. Typically, this situation means the microcontroller is faulty, which may result in the need to replace the entire motherboard.

In IBM BIOS, a similar BIOS signal, one long beep, also has its meaning - this is a video system malfunction. You can try to fix this problematic situation yourself by checking that the video card is securely installed in the motherboard expansion slot.

Many people know that when you start a computer, the BIOS is first loaded, which immediately scans and checks all devices for serviceability and ability to function normally. BIOS when loading Windows are a consequence of the fact that some kind of error has been detected in the system.

Of course, it is almost impossible to remember all of them, so you should always have the instructions in front of your eyes. Or, for example, print this article and use it in the future.

It is worth noting that BIOSes differ from different manufacturers, and, accordingly, too.

For reference, I would like to say, how you can determine the BIOS brand so that you know, just in case something happens, and can correctly identify the initialization error. The name is visible when loading the PC, or using some programs, for example, Everest (Aida).

Let's start with the oldies. I don’t think it’s worth describing all possible signal options, but it’s worth mentioning only the most basic and frequently occurring ones.

1 short:

Blank screen and 1 signal: The video system is faulty and therefore no information is displayed on the screen.

2 short: monitor is not connected.

Problems have been detected with the motherboard.

If

A short signal that either repeats periodically or is simply continuous: some failures or defects in the motherboard or power supply.

If there is no signal at all, then this means that you have a motherboard or a power supply.

SignalsAMI BIOS:

1 short: POST completed successfully. That is, no errors were found.

1 long and then 1 short: Some problems were discovered with the power supply.

1 long and then 4 short: video card not detected.

2 short: The printer or scanner is turned on.

3 long beeps: RAM problems. Try reinstalling it or replacing the rulers.

4 short: The system timer has failed.

5 short: Some problems have been detected with the processor.

7 short: at mat. problems have been detected on the board.

8 short: The video card memory generated an error.

1 long and then 2 short: the video card has some problems (Mono / CGA)

If 1 long and then 3 short: the video card has some problems (EGA / VGA)

1 long and then 8 short: There is no monitor or the video card is faulty.

Blank screen and no signal: the processor has failed, or there is poor contact at its legs.

The signal is continuous: The power supply is faulty or the computer is overheating

BIOS signals from Award:

1 short: POST completed successfully. No flaws found.

2 short sounds: Only minor interference was detected. It will be necessary to check the contacts and various fastenings of cables, hard drives, and the like.

3 long: an error caused by the controller for working with the keyboard.

1 short and then 1 long: error reading or writing information from RAM.

1 long and then 2 short: Video card errors detected.

1 long and then 3 short: error reading or writing information from video memory.

1 long and then 3 short: error reading or writing data from ROM.

A short signal that repeats periodically: Some defects were detected in the power supply.

A long signal that repeats periodically: Problems with RAM.

Repeating sound signal, sometimes at high and sometimes low frequencies: Problems with the processor.

Continuous signal: Malfunctions in the power supply.

And lastly... If you have some other version of BIOS, or you want to know all the sound ones, then go to the manufacturer’s website and look at the instructions. If you do not find detailed instructions on such sites, then try looking for more detailed information on the links provided in the Everest program.

A fairly common situation is the problem when, when turning on the computer, the user hears one long and two short BIOS beeps from the system speaker. In this case, the operating system does not load at all, and the user sees a black screen in front of him (sometimes messages indicating a problem may appear, but, as a rule, they are absent). Read on to learn how to interpret this sequence of signals and what to do to correct the situation.

One long, two short BIOS beeps: what does this mean?

Let's start with theoretical information. When you turn on your desktop computer or laptop, all hardware is checked. The primary BIOS system (or its modernized UEFI version) is responsible for this. For each such system, the use of strictly defined signal sequences is provided, which can indicate either that the test was completed successfully, or that problems were found in the operation or initialization of the equipment. In general, to figure out what the problem is, you need to refer to the technical documentation of the primary system or at least read what different sequences and combinations mean.

In general, if the user hears one long and two short beeps from the BIOS of ASUS or any other developer of the primary system, we can immediately conclude that something is wrong with the installed hardware. Unfortunately, the system does not provide notifications about faulty components.

The only situation is a message about the absence of a connected keyboard. But this mostly applies exclusively to stationary terminals, since on laptops such a message can only appear if the built-in keyboard has become unusable. Connect any other external keyboard, for example, via USB and check how the system boots.

One long, two short BIOS beeps: what to do first?

The issuance of such a sequence of signals may not always be associated specifically with physical breakdowns of the installed equipment. It is quite possible that somewhere on the motherboard the contacts have simply come loose or become clogged. All components may be in perfect order, but dust or contamination of the inside of the computer can lead to the fact that some elements of the filling are simply not detected.

In the simplest case, if you receive one long and two short signals from the BIOS, you should immediately turn off the computer and completely disconnect it from the power supply. After this, you need to pause so that the residual currents disappear (ten minutes will be enough), then remove the side cover of the stationary PC case from the side accessing the motherboard and perform a basic dust removal. A regular vacuum cleaner with the minimum suction power set is suitable for this. When cleaning, you need to be very careful not to damage the components installed on the motherboard and the motherboard itself, otherwise the entire computer system will stop working. And replacing a motherboard is clearly not a cheap pleasure.

Problems with the graphics chip

Basically, most situations when the user hears one long and two short BIOS beeps are usually attributed to problems with the graphics adapter, since it is the adapter that is responsible for displaying the image on the screen, and if it malfunctions, problems arise with the inability to start the operating system.

In different BIOS versions (and from different developers), this sequence of signals may indicate different failures. For example, IBM BIOS issues such signals only if the computer is equipped with Mono/CGA video cards. But since such chips are practically not found today, such situations are very rare.

In the case of AST BIOS, such a sequence is issued only if problems are observed with frame scanning.

Compaq BIOS gives one long and two short beeps if initialization of the graphics adapter is not possible at all. The same situation is observed with the primary systems Award and Quadtel.

The problem can only be fixed physically. To do this, you need to remove the video card from the corresponding slot on the motherboard and first check its functionality on another computer. If it works as expected, the slot itself may need to be cleaned. You can also try inserting it into a different connector. If the card does not work, it will have to be replaced.

Possible problems with RAM

But problems are not always associated specifically with graphics adapters. For example, AMI BIOS generates one long and two short signals if problems with RAM are detected (for a video card, a sequence of pulses in combination 1-3 is used).

In this case, the memory sticks should be removed one at a time when the power is turned off, turning on the computer after each removal and checking the functionality of the system. When the damaged strip is found and the system boots in normal mode, you will simply have to replace it by installing similar equipment in its place. In this case, you should take into account which generation the RAM belongs to, and also pay attention to the characteristics of the motherboard itself in terms of ensuring that it supports the installed brackets both according to the standard and the maximum volume. Otherwise, you will not be able to use the maximum capacity, since the one determined by the motherboard may be much less.

What to do if the problem persists?

But let’s assume that it was not possible to get rid of the malfunctions using such simple methods. Let's take a situation where a Samsung laptop produces a similar combination. One long and two short BIOS signals are enough to determine problems with the equipment, but disassembling the device yourself is not always advisable.

In some cases, you can do much simpler, since the problem may be incorrect settings of the primary system. To get started, use reset parameters from the appropriate section, save the changes and check how the loading will proceed. If such actions do not give results, it may very well be that updating the BIOS will help. True, such actions must be performed competently, so as not to render the primary input/output system itself unusable.

A similar solution can be applied to stationary computer terminals. But this situation can mainly be associated with replacing hardware or installing new components, when an outdated version of the BIOS is unable to recognize modern devices. In this case, updating the firmware is the best option to fix the problem.

Instead of an afterword

It remains to add that the situation when a sequence in the form of one long and two short BIOS signals is output through the system speaker can, in principle, be corrected. Since the true reason for this behavior of the system is not clearly indicated, you will have to perform the described actions exactly in the order in which they were given in the above material. It is advisable not to use reset and update immediately, but leave them as a last resort if methods of physical intervention are powerless. However, first, clean the stationary unit from dust. This is the first remedy. With laptops the situation is more complicated, especially if the device is under warranty. If none of the above suggestions help, you will have to contact an authorized service center. And avoid contacting private sellers who do not have relevant experience in repairing computer equipment. Then many more problems may appear.