What do the computer signals indicate when you turn it on? How to turn off the sound when you turn on your computer
If your laptop beeps when you turn it on, the reasons for this may be different. Let's try to figure them out. Computer equipment is often subject to various breakdowns. The fact is that a laptop consists of a large number of subsystems that are interconnected, but their elements are not super strong and durable.
Task
If the laptop does not boot, it is important to determine the reason for this situation. Equipment developers have provided for this. A special mechanism was created to determine the cause of the breakdown and localize it. It consists precisely in special signals emitted by the computer. So, if you hear any sounds from the laptop, this is good news, indicating that the device has not completely failed. If it's too early to panic. Almost any breakdown can be repaired. Certain faults can be fixed on your own, while others will require the assistance of a professional.
Input device
If your laptop beeps when you turn it on, the most common reason for this is stuck keys. It is caused by clogging or spilled liquid. As a result, the contacts close. It can be considered a good option if the moisture remains exclusively on the keyboard, without penetrating into the case. In the latter option, the problems that arise may be much more serious.
Temperature
If the laptop does not boot, the reason for this may lie in the cooling system. Its clogging with debris or dust, as well as mechanical damage caused by shocks when the device is dropped, cause overheating of the central processor. If the cooling system is used to dissipate heat from the graphics card, it can also become unusable.
RAM
If your laptop beeps when you turn it on, the reason for this may also be due to damage to the RAM. As a rule, in such cases we are talking about a breakdown in contact between the RAM and the motherboard. Less common reasons for extraneous sounds when turning on include incorrect settings in the BIOS or failure of the motherboard.
What does the signal mean?
If your laptop beeps when you turn it on, there may be several reasons for this. The sound comes from a small tweeter. It is located on the motherboard. He is called the speaker. The device looks like a small barrel. Its main purpose is to signal faults. The emitted sound contains information describing the nature of the breakdown. If you know the BIOS manufacturer, and also determine the squeak tone and duration, it is easy to find out which component needs repair. To find out BIOS information, you can use the documents that came with the device.
Display
Often, in addition, the screen on the laptop also does not work. We should talk about this in more detail. First of all, we check the power settings while running on battery and mains power. Set the screen brightness. If we also check whether it is not active in all positions of the lid. The fact is that if the matrix cable is damaged, the display can display information only under certain conditions. In particular, this concerns the position of the lid. Also, if a black screen appears on your laptop, you should connect it to an external monitor. We check whether the image is displayed on it. If this is the case, most likely the cable or matrix is faulty. If there is no image, the most likely problem is the hardware, primarily the video card. When turned on, you may hear the operating system loading. In this case, the fault definitely lies in the video card. When it is obvious that there is no boot process, the indicator responsible for the operation of the hard drive does not respond, the problem is in other components. The problem may also be with the power button. She is able to stop responding to pressure. This is usually caused by contamination.
Less common problems
If you can only see a black screen on your laptop, but you can hear the operating system loading, you should take a closer look at the display and shine a lamp on it. If you can see the image, but there is no backlight, then the lamp or inverter is faulty. These elements are responsible for constant illumination of the screen. If there is a breakdown in the inverter, it can be either repaired or replaced. It all depends on the severity of the breakdown. The backlight lamp cannot be restored, only replaced. If the display turns black on the sides and shows almost nothing, most likely the reason lies in the failure of the laptop hardware. 60% of cases are a video chip failure. It occurs due to overheating. 10% - lack of contact between the power supply and memory module. In this case, a thorough check of the device is necessary. In 10% of cases it fails. Another 20% are problems of a different kind. To find and eliminate them, you need to diagnose the device. Most often, the screen matrix remains intact. Its damage is possible due to mechanical damage or liquid getting on the screen.
Types of signal
We've sorted out the display, and now let's get back to the sounds made by the laptop. Each signal carries information about the cause of the malfunction. Sound decoding may vary depending on the BIOS manufacturer. Let's look at them in order. The sequence of signals will be indicated in quotes.
Let's start with devices from DELL. The “1-2” signal indicates a problem with the video card. The “1-2-2-3” sound indicates an error in the BIOS ROM. If you hear the combination "1-3-1-1", the problem is with the DRAM update. If there is a keyboard error, the signal “1-3-1-3” sounds. The code "1-3-3-1" indicates a memory error. types “1-3-4-1”, “1-3-4-3” and “1-4-1-1” indicate various failures, but they are all associated with problems in RAM.
Now let's discuss AMI BIOS. 1 short signal indicates that there are no errors and the laptop is in good condition. 3 long beeps refer to RAM and indicate that the read and write test has completed with errors detected. The memory element needs to be reset. 1 long and 1 short signal indicates power problems. If the laptop beeps 8 times when you turn it on, there is a video card memory error. If you hear 1 long beep and 8 short beeps, the monitor may not be connected. Also in this case, we can talk about 10 short signals indicating a recording error in CMOS. Continuous sound may be caused by a power failure. The processor may also overheat.
1 long sound in combination with 4 short ones indicates the absence of a video card. If there is no signal at all, most likely it is a processor malfunction. 1 long sound and 3 short ones indicate a video card error. The problem relates to the EGA-VGA system. 2 short beeps most often indicate a RAM parity error. A similar sound may occur if the printer or scanner is not turned off. 4 short beeps indicate a system timer malfunction. In this case, you need to replace the motherboard. 11 short beeps indicate a cache error. It is located on the motherboard. 1 long signal in combination with 2 short ones indicates a video card error. We are talking about a Mono-CGA failure.
Greetings to all readers of the IT Country website. In this article I want to tell you about BIOS sound signals. If your computer has a built-in speaker, you will hear a single beep when you restart or turn on the computer. It tells us that the computer components are working properly and the POST system did not reveal any problems. But it often happens that if with , then it starts making BIOS sounds.
Many users do not know what they mean and take the computer to the workshop. We will try to figure out on our own what the BIOS is beeping about and identify the cause of the malfunction. Since different motherboards have different basic input/output systems, first you need to determine which motherboard is on your computer. But everything is in order.
As I said above, we need BIOS sound signals in order to find out which component of the computer is faulty. As a rule, if it works properly, then when turned on we hear one short signal. Such signals are produced by a special speaker connected to the computer motherboard.
Note! Your computer may not make any beeps if there is no speaker physically connected to the motherboard. The absence of a speaker on many boards is most likely because the manufacturer is trying to make the production of their product as cheap as possible.
Many of you have probably already asked the question: “What are the risks for me of using a computer without a speaker?” It would seem like such a small thing that is not needed at all if the computer is working, but many people start thinking about it when the computer breaks down. In this case, if a speaker is connected, the computer will emit a special beep or series of beeps in a specific sequence. To decipher such signals, you can refer to the motherboard manual. But as a rule, this book either does not exist, or nothing in it is clear to many of us. Therefore, below we will look at how to decipher BIOS sound signals. But first you need to determine its manufacturer.
To decipher BIOS beeps, you need to know the manufacturer. Since different motherboards had different basic input/output systems installed. You can find out this information in different ways. For example, when you turn on your computer, you see a black screen with data about your hard drives. On this screen, as a rule, the BIOS version and manufacturer are indicated at the top.
If the necessary information is quickly replaced by another, and you do not have time to see everything, then you need to press the “Pause” key. If, when you turn on your computer, you see a screensaver from the motherboard manufacturer, you need to press the “Tab” key to remove it.
The next way to find out the version of the basic input/output system is to log into it. To do this, when you turn on the computer, press the “Del”, “F1”, “F2” or other key. Depending on the . After that, find the System Information section and look at the BIOS version and manufacturer. 
Another way, which is quite simple, to find out the BIOS version and manufacturer is to look using the “System Information” utility. To do this, press the hotkey combination “Windows + R”, and in the “Run” command window that opens, type “MSINFO32”. A window with system information will open, in which we look at the line “BIOS version” 
Finally, we will find out the version of the basic input/output system through the “CPU-Z” program. 
We have already used it more than once in previous articles. Therefore, we launch the program, go to the board tab and look at the BIOS information.
Decoding BIOS signals.
Once we were able to determine the BIOS manufacturer. You and I need to move on to deciphering the signals.
AMI BIOS (American Megatrends Inc.) is probably the most famous manufacturer of BIOS for motherboards. If during the self-test, POST does not detect any problems, you will hear a single short beep. After it, the operating system will immediately begin loading. If you hear other signals, then you should be wary, listen and decipher them.
Below is a table with a breakdown of AMI BIOS sound signals. 
As a rule, if the computer starts beeping, sometimes a simple reboot or turning off the power to the system unit for a while helps. If this does not solve the problem, then at the end of the article I will tell you how to deal with the main malfunctions.
If you have a motherboard with this BIOS version, then it is characterized by special sounds. Which look like this. For example, the code 1-1-4 would sound like one pip, pause, another pip, pause again, and then four pips. This sound will indicate an incorrect BIOS ROM checksum. To decipher BIOS beeps on a motherboard with Phoenix BIOS, see the table below. 
Another popular manufacturer of BIOS for motherboards. It is installed on many motherboards. Its display interface is classic and has not undergone any major changes for 10 years.
The sound signals are somewhat similar to the AMI BIOS. Therefore, it will not be difficult for you to decipher them. The table is presented below. 
The most common BIOS sounds and what they mean.
I propose to consider the most common sound signals that we can hear when there is a problem with a computer.
- A long, single BIOS sound when you turn on the computer most often indicates problems with RAM;
- One long and two short - if you hear such a signal, then there is a high probability that there are problems with the video adapter. To begin with, just pull it out and clean the contacts. For example, an eraser will do. Also clean your computer from dust if you haven’t done this for a long time;
- One long and three short signals - this signal configuration indicates problems with the video card, RAM or keyboard;
- Three short beeps often indicate problems with the RAM. To solve the problem yourself, remove the memory module from the connector and clean it. If there are several memory modules, try starting the computer first with one, then with two, and so on;
- Five short BIOS signals tell us that the central processor is faulty. If you hear these beeps after installing a new CPU, it may be misaligned with the motherboard or you may have done something wrong. If the processor has not been changed, then perhaps it has failed or there is no contact in some place;
- Four long beeps - often tell us that the speed of the cooler cooling the processor is low;
- There are no signals, the computer does not turn on - most likely you have a problem with the power supply. Replace it with a good one.
Let's summarize.
Today we looked at BIOS sound signals. As a rule, if when you turn on your computer you hear a whole serenade from your computer instead of the usual single squeak, then you now know that you need to decipher the signals. In most cases, you can solve the problem yourself. Very often the problem is solved after cleaning the contacts of the computer components or by simply rebooting and de-energizing the system.
Very often people ask me what they mean BIOS beeps when turning on PC. In this article we will take a detailed look at BIOS sounds depending on the manufacturer, the most likely errors and how to eliminate them. In a separate paragraph, I will tell you 4 simple ways to find out the BIOS manufacturer, and also remind you of the basic principles of working with hardware.
Let's get started!
1. What are BIOS beeps for?
Every time you turn it on, you hear the computer beeping. Often this is heard from the speaker of the system unit. It indicates that the POST diagnostic self-test has successfully completed the test and has not detected any faults. After which the installed operating system begins to load.
If your computer does not have a system speaker, then you will not hear any sounds. This is not an indication of an error, just that the manufacturer of your device decided to save money.
Most often, I observed this situation with laptops and DNS stationary systems (now they produce their products under the DEXP brand). “What is the danger of not having a speaker?” - you ask. It seems like such a small thing, and the computer works fine without it. But if it is impossible to initialize the video card, it will not be possible to identify and fix the problem.
If a problem is detected, the computer will emit a corresponding sound signal - a certain sequence of long or short squeaks. Using the instructions for the motherboard, you can decipher it, but which of us keeps such instructions? Therefore, in this article I have prepared for you tables with decoding of BIOS sound signals that will help you identify the problem and fix it.
Modern motherboards have a built-in system speaker.
Attention! All manipulations with the computer’s hardware configuration should be carried out if it is completely disconnected from the power supply. Before opening the case, be sure to remove the power plug from the outlet.
2. How to find out the BIOS manufacturer
Before looking for a decoding of computer sounds, you need to find out the BIOS manufacturer, since their sound signals are significantly different.
2.1. Method 1
“Identification” can be done in various ways, the simplest is look at the screen while loading. The manufacturer and BIOS version are usually indicated at the top. To capture this moment, press the Pause key on your keyboard. If instead of the necessary information you see only a splash screen of the motherboard manufacturer, press Tab.
The two most popular BIOS manufacturers are AWARD and AMI
2.2. Method 2
Go to BIOS. I wrote in detail about how to do this. Browse the sections and find the item - System Information. The current BIOS version should be indicated there. And at the bottom (or top) of the screen the manufacturer will be indicated - American Megatrends Inc. (AMI), AWARD, DELL, etc.
2.3. Method 3
One of the fastest ways to find out the BIOS manufacturer is to use the Windows + R hotkeys and enter the MSINFO32 command in the “Run” line that opens. This way it will be launched System Information utility, with which you can get all the information about the hardware configuration of your computer.
Launching the System Information utility
You can also launch it from the menu: Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Information
You can find out the BIOS manufacturer through “System information”
2.4. Method 4
Use third-party programs, they were described in detail in. Most often used CPU-Z, it is absolutely free and very simple (you can download it on the official website). After starting the program, go to the “Board” tab and in the BIOS section you will see all the information about the manufacturer:
How to find out the BIOS manufacturer using CPU-Z
3. Decoding BIOS signals
After we have found out the BIOS type, we can begin to decipher the sound signals depending on the manufacturer. Let's look at the main ones in tables.
3.1. AMI BIOS - beeps
AMI BIOS (American Megatrends Inc.) since 2002 is the most popular manufacturer in the world. In all versions, successful completion of the self-test is one short beep , after which the installed operating system is loaded. Other AMI BIOS beeps are listed in the table:
| Signal type | Decoding |
| 2 short | RAM parity error. |
| 3 short | Error in the first 64 KB of RAM. |
| 4 short | |
| 5 short | CPU failure. |
| 6 short | Keyboard controller error. |
| 7 short | Motherboard failure. |
| 8 short | Video card memory failure. |
| 9 short | BIOS checksum error. |
| 10 short | Cannot write to CMOS. |
| 11 short | RAM error. |
| 1 dl + 1 cor | The computer's power supply is faulty. |
| 1 dl + 2 cor | |
| 1 dl + 3 cor | Video card operation error, RAM malfunction. |
| 1 dl + 4 cor | No video card. |
| 1 dl + 8 cor | The monitor is not connected, or there is a problem with the video card. |
| 3 long | Problems with RAM, test completed with error. |
| 5 cor + 1 dl | There is no RAM. |
| Continuous | Problems with the power supply or PC overheating. |
No matter how trivial it may sound, I advise my friends and clients in most cases turn off and turn on the computer. Yes, this is a typical phrase from the guys from your provider’s technical support, but it helps! However, if after the next reboot you hear squeaks from the speaker that are different from the usual one short beep, then you need to fix the problem. I will talk about this at the end of the article.
3.2. AWARD BIOS - signals
Like AMI, one short beep AWARD BIOS signals a successful self-test and the start of the operating system. What do the other sounds mean? Let's look at the table:
| Signal type | Decoding |
| 1 repeating short | Problems with the power supply. |
| 1 repeating long | Problems with RAM. |
| 1 long + 1 short | RAM fault. |
| 1 long + 2 short | Video card error. |
| 1 long + 3 short | Problems with the keyboard. |
| 1 long + 9 short | Error reading data from ROM. |
| 2 short | Minor faults |
| 3 long | Keyboard controller error |
| Continuous sound | The power supply is faulty. |
3.3. Phoenix BIOS
PHOENIX has very characteristic “beeps”; they are written in the table differently from AMI or AWARD. In the table they are indicated as combinations of sounds and pauses. For example, 1-1-2 would sound like one beep, a pause, another beep, another pause and two beeps.
| Signal type | Decoding |
| 1-1-2 | CPU error. |
| 1-1-3 | Cannot write to CMOS. The battery on the motherboard is probably dead. Motherboard failure. |
| 1-1-4 | Invalid BIOS ROM checksum. |
| 1-2-1 | The programmable interrupt timer is faulty. |
| 1-2-2 | DMA controller error. |
| 1-2-3 | DMA controller read or write error. |
| 1-3-1 | Memory regeneration error. |
| 1-3-2 | RAM test does not run. |
| 1-3-3 | The RAM controller is faulty. |
| 1-3-4 | The RAM controller is faulty. |
| 1-4-1 | RAM address line error. |
| 1-4-2 | RAM parity error. |
| 3-2-4 | Keyboard initialization error. |
| 3-3-1 | The battery on the motherboard is dead. |
| 3-3-4 | Video card malfunction. |
| 3-4-1 | Video adapter malfunction. |
| 4-2-1 | System timer malfunction. |
| 4-2-2 | CMOS termination error. |
| 4-2-3 | Keyboard controller malfunction. |
| 4-2-4 | CPU error. |
| 4-3-1 | Error in RAM test. |
| 4-3-3 | Timer error |
| 4-3-4 | Error in RTC operation. |
| 4-4-1 | Serial port problem. |
| 4-4-2 | Parallel port problem. |
| 4-4-3 | Problems with the coprocessor. |
4. The most popular BIOS sounds and their meaning
I could make for you a dozen more different tables with beep decoding, but I decided that it would be much more useful to pay attention to the most popular BIOS sound signals. So, what do users most often search for:
- one long two short BIOS beeps– this sound almost certainly does not bode well for anything good, namely problems with the video card. The first thing you need to check is whether the video card is fully inserted into the motherboard. Oh, by the way, how long have you been here? After all, one of the reasons for problems with loading may be banal dust that has clogged up in the cooler. But let's return to the problems with the video card. Try pulling it out and cleaning the contacts with an eraser. It would be a good idea to make sure there is no debris or foreign objects in the connectors. Still getting an error? Then the situation is more complicated, you will have to try to boot a computer with an integrated video camera (provided that it is on the motherboard). If it boots, it means that the problem is in the removed video card and you cannot do without replacing it.
- one long BIOS beep at startup- Possibly problems with RAM.
- 3 short BIOS beeps– RAM error. What can be done? Remove the RAM modules and clean the contacts with an eraser, wipe with a cotton swab moistened with alcohol, and try swapping the modules. Also possible. If the RAM modules are working, the computer will boot.
- 5 short BIOS beeps– the processor is faulty. A very unpleasant sound, isn't it? If this is the first time the processor has been installed, check its compatibility with the motherboard. If everything worked before, but now the computer beeps like crazy, then you need to check whether the contacts are clean and even.
- 4 long BIOS beeps– low speed or CPU fan stops. It needs to be either cleaned or replaced.
- 1 long 2 short BIOS beeps– problems with the video card or malfunction of the RAM connectors.
- 1 long 3 short BIOS beeps– either problems with the video card, or RAM problems, or keyboard errors.
- two short BIOS beeps – see the manufacturer to clarify the error.
- three long BIOS beeps– problems with RAM (the solution to the problem is described above), or problems with the keyboard.
- BIOS signals are many short– you need to count exactly how many short signals.
- The computer does not boot and there is no BIOS signal– the power supply is faulty, there is a processor performance problem, or the system speaker is missing (see above).
From my own experience, I can say that quite often all problems with booting a computer are due to poor contact between various modules, for example RAM or a video card. And, as I wrote above, in some cases a regular reboot helps. Sometimes you can solve the problem by resetting the system board settings.
Attention! If you doubt your abilities, it is better to entrust diagnostics and repairs to professionals. There is no point in taking risks and then blaming the author of the article for something that is not his fault :)
- To solve the problem it is necessary pull out the module from the connector, remove dust and insert back. The contacts can be carefully cleaned and wiped with alcohol. To clean the connector from dirt, it is convenient to use a dry toothbrush.
- Don't forget to spend visual inspection. If some elements are deformed, have a black coating or streaks, the cause of problems with loading the computer will be in plain sight.
- Let me also remind you that any manipulations with the system unit should be performed only when power is off. Don't forget to remove static electricity. To do this, it will be enough to grasp the computer system unit with both hands.
- Dont touch to the pins of the microcircuits.
- Do not use metal and abrasive materials to clean the contacts of RAM modules or video cards. For this purpose, you can use a soft eraser.
- Soberly evaluate your capabilities. If your computer is under warranty, it is better to use the services of service center specialists than to delve into the “brains” of the machine yourself.
If you have any questions, ask them in the comments to this article, we’ll sort it out!
Greetings, friends! Today I will tell you about BIOS sound signals. You may have noticed that when you turn on your computer, it makes a beeping sound or, in other words, beeps. This actually beeps your computer's BIOS, thereby telling you whether everything is fine with your computer or if there is any problem. Let's try to understand this topic in as much detail as possible.
What do the BIOS beeps mean when you turn on your computer?
Whatever BIOS is installed on your motherboard, you should hear one short beep when you turn on your PC. This means that everything is working fine and Windows will start loading after it. However, sometimes the opposite is true. The BIOS beeps like crazy, and the computer either doesn’t turn on at all, or the startup ends on the very first black screen - the BIOS bootloader.
This is where today's knowledge will come in handy. Because by this beeping you can determine what exactly is out of order in your PC.
Well, have you already looked at what BIOS you have? Now you can look at the decoding of BIOS sound signals.
BIOS AMI beeps. Full transcript
| 1 short | Everything works fine. Don't pay any attention to him. |
| 2 short | The RAM is not working properly or is faulty. Try disassembling the system unit, removing the RAM from the slots and inserting it back. Perhaps this will solve the problem. Otherwise, you will have to contact a service center or buy new RAM. |
| 3 short | Almost the same as 2 short beeps. Do the same as in the previous paragraph. |
| 4 short | There is something wrong with the system timer on your motherboard. Try resetting the BIOS to factory settings. If that doesn't help, try replacing the battery, it's inexpensive. |
| 5 short | One of the worst mistakes. Your central processor is faulty. A simple reboot of the computer may or may not help. |
| 6 short | Check if the keyboard is connected properly. If yes, but the BIOS still beeps, then you will have to either replace the keyboard or repair the connector on the motherboard. |
| 7 short | This is also scary. The motherboard is faulty. And it would seem that 7 is a lucky number. Such a surprise. |
| 8 short | Transmitter your video card. Although, try pulling it out and inserting it back into the slot, maybe this will help. In the same case, if the video card is integrated, you will have to replace the entire motherboard or take it to a service center. Although I wouldn’t recommend it, if they fix it, it won’t be for long. |
| 9 short | You need to update or flash the BIOS of your computer. |
| 10 short | Error in CMOS memory operation. Take it to the service center, they will help you. |
| 11 short | This error is also RAM related. |
| 1 long and 1 short | The power supply is not working correctly (or not working at all, you know better). |
| 1 long and 4 short | The video card is not connected. Have you forgotten anything? |
| 1 long and 8 short | You have not connected a monitor or the video card has a problem with outputting images to the monitor. |
| 3 long | RAM is working with errors. |
| 5 short and 1 long | There is no RAM. Please insert it. |
| Infinitely long | This is either the computer overheating or problems with the computer's power supply. This is how the BIOS squeaks when it is under stress, shock and severe panic. |
Decoding sound signals BIOS AWARD
| 1 short | Everything is fine, don't worry. |
| 2 short | Minor error in BIOS settings. Enter BIOS settings and reset it to optimal settings or undo your last setting if you remember what exactly you changed. |
| 3 long | This is the keyboard. Try restarting your computer. |
| 1 short and 1 long | RAM memory is not working properly. Disassemble the system unit, remove the RAM from the slots and insert it back. If the problem is not solved, then you will have to contact a service center or buy new RAM. |
| 1 long and 2 short | Problems with the video adapter, or more precisely video memory. Perhaps everything will be fixed if you remove the video card from the slot and insert it back. If the video card is integrated, you will have to either switch to a discrete one or replace the motherboard. |
| 1 long and 3 short | Keyboard connection error. Try connecting a different keyboard if you have one. If the BIOS continues to beep, then most likely the problem lies in the motherboard. |
| 1 long and 9 short | You need to flash the BIOS. It is better to do this at a service center if you are not sure that you can handle it yourself. Otherwise you may lose your motherboard forever. |
| Infinitely repeating short signal | Problems with the power supply. It works with errors and can burn other components of your computer. |
| Infinitely repeating long signal | BIOS AWARD beeps this way if your RAM is damaged. Perhaps only one of the planks. Try one by one |
This is how the Phoenix BIOS beeps in a special way
BIOS Phoenix squeaks a little differently than its brothers. It is more melodic, so to speak in this context. Dotted sound signals from the Phoenix BIOS alternate with pauses between them. And absolutely all signals from that BIOS are always short.
| 1-1-2, | The BIOS has detected errors in the operation of the central processor. |
| 1-1-3 | Error reading information from the CMOS memory of the motherboard. |
| 1-3-2 | Unable to run RAM test. |
| 1-3-3, 1-3-4 |
One of the RAM controllers is damaged. |
| 1-4-1, | These BIOS beeps indicate errors in the RAM. |
| 3-3-1 | The battery on the motherboard is dead or has a low charge. |
| 3-3-4, | BIOS errors indicating that the video adapter is not working properly. |
| 4-2-3 | Check the keyboard connection. |
BIOS does not beep when you turn on the PC
Quite often it happens that when you turn on the PC, the BIOS does not beep at all. Why? Depends on the specific situation. To be on topic, first you need to know what a speaker is and why it is needed.
What is a motherboard speaker?
Motherboard speaker is a miniature high-frequency speaker that warns the user about malfunctions in the operation of your computer even before it is turned on. In other words, a speaker is a means of displaying information about the state of the computer. Also, a speaker is a device that produces BIOS sound signals!
This is what the speaker looks like on the motherboard. It is he who helps emit BIOS signals!
Some reasons why your PC may not beep at startup
It often happens that manufacturers of budget computers (and not only budget ones) either forget to install a speaker on the motherboard, or deliberately save on this spare part. Accordingly, the BIOS does not beep, because there is simply nothing to beep. If you urgently need to diagnose a problem with your computer, you can simply borrow your friend's speaker for the day. Fortunately, pulling it out and inserting it will not be difficult for you.
Another reason why you may not hear BIOS beeps when you turn on your computer is that you accidentally touched it or pulled it, and it just became a little disconnected. In this case, insert it more tightly and everything will beep. By the way, there are also motherboards in which the speaker is not disconnected at all.
The BIOS does not beep on laptops, because they do not install a speaker on them for aesthetic reasons. Imagine if every time you turned on your laptop, it gave you a characteristic, high-frequency signal. It's annoying.
Especially if your wife has already fallen asleep, and you decide to play tanks in secret, you turn on the laptop, and here you are wearing BIIIIIIIP!!! Your wife immediately woke up and hit you with a star. In general, the speaker is not so relevant on a laptop.
Although some laptops can produce similar audio signals through external speakers and even headphones. Everyone who encounters this is trying to get rid of this squeak (pipiska) as soon as possible by any means.
Where and how to connect the speaker on the motherboard?
This will be useful for you to know if you decide to borrow the missing speaker from a friend or buy it. When you removed the speaker from a friend’s motherboard, you should have noticed that the place where it is connected is marked with characteristic inscriptions, most often it appears there Speaker or spk or spkr. The polarity of the speaker does not matter, so you can connect the speaker without error.
Several examples of motherboards with designated places for connecting a speaker.
Let's summarize
The article turned out to be quite lengthy, but I hope it helped you understand today’s topic. At a minimum, you can now connect the speaker to the motherboard and know why it is needed. We also looked at the decoding of sound signals for the main and most popular BIOS versions. If your BIOS version differs from those considered, then simply specify your request in a search engine, for example “ decoding BIOS sound signals IBM/DELL».
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Award BIOS
- There are no signals - The power supply is faulty or not connected to the motherboard.
Continuous signal - The power supply is faulty. Needs replacement.
1 short beep - No errors detected. Typical behavior of a working computer - the computer boots normally.
2 short beeps - Minor errors detected. The screen prompts you to enter the CMOS Setup Utility program to correct the situation. Check that the cables are securely fastened in the hard drive and motherboard connectors.
3 long beeps - Keyboard controller error. Restart your computer. The motherboard may need to be replaced.
1 long + 1 short beeps - RAM problems detected. Check that the memory modules are installed correctly. Or replace with other memory modules.
1 long + 2 short beeps - Problem with the video card - the most common malfunction. It is recommended to remove the board and reinsert it. Also check the connection to the monitor's video card.
1 long + 3 short beeps - Keyboard initialization error. Check the connection between the keyboard and the connector on the motherboard.
1 long + 9 short signals - Error when reading data from the permanent memory chip. Reboot the computer or reflash the contents of the chip (if this mode is supported).
1 long repeating signal - Incorrect memory modules. Try pulling them out and putting them in again.
1 short repeating signal - Problems with the power supply. Try to remove any dust that has accumulated in it.
AMI BIOS
-No signals - The power supply is faulty or not connected to the motherboard.
1 short beep - No errors detected. The computer is ready to use.
2 short beeps - RAM parity error. Restart your computer. Check the installation of memory modules. Memory modules may need to be replaced.
3 short beeps - Error during operation of the main memory (first 64 KB). Restart your computer. Check the installation of memory modules in the slots. Memory modules may need to be replaced.
4 short beeps - The system timer is faulty. The motherboard may need to be replaced.
5 short beeps - The central processor is faulty. The processor may need to be replaced.
6 short beeps - The keyboard controller is faulty. Check the quality of the connection between the latter and the connector on the motherboard. Try replacing the keyboard. If this does not help, then the motherboard may need to be replaced.
7 short beeps - The motherboard is faulty.
8 short beeps - Problems with the video card.
9 short beeps - Checksum error on the contents of the BIOS chip. A corresponding message may appear on the monitor screen. It requires either replacing the chip or rewriting its contents (if it is Flash memory).
10 short - Unable to write to CMOS memory. The CMOS chip or motherboard needs to be replaced.
11 short beeps - The external cache memory is faulty. Replacement of cache memory modules is required.
1 long + 2 short beeps - The video card is faulty. Check the connection between the monitor and the connector on the video card. The video card may need to be replaced.
1 long + 3 short beeps - The video card is faulty. Check the connection between the monitor and the connector on the video card. The video card may need to be replaced.
1 long + 8 short beeps - Problems with the video card, or the monitor is not connected. Check the installation of the video card in the expansion slot again.
Phoenix BIOS
Phonenix BIOS manufacturers have developed their own interleaving signal system.
1-1-3 - Error writing/reading CMOS data. The CMOS memory chip or motherboard needs to be replaced. It is also possible that the battery powering the CMOS memory chip has run out.
1-1-4 - Checksum error on the contents of the BIOS chip. The BIOS chip needs to be replaced or flashed (if using Flash memory).
1-2-1 - The motherboard is faulty. Turn off your computer for a while. If that doesn't help, replace the motherboard.
1-2-2 - DMA controller initialization error. The motherboard may need to be replaced.
1-2-3 - Error when trying to read/write to one of the DMA channels. The motherboard may need to be replaced.
1-3-1 - Problem with RAM. Replace memory modules.
1-3-3 - Error when testing the first 64 KB of RAM. Replace memory modules.
1-3-4 - Error when testing the first 64 KB of RAM. Replace memory modules.
1-4-1 - The motherboard is faulty. It may need to be replaced.
1-4-2 - Problem with RAM. Check the installation of memory modules in the slots.
1-4-3 - System timer error. The motherboard may need to be replaced.
1-4-4 - Error accessing the I/O port. This error may be caused by a peripheral device that uses this port for its operation.
3-1-1 - Error initializing the second DMA channel. The motherboard may need to be replaced.
3-1-2 - Error initializing the first DMA channel. The motherboard may need to be replaced.
3-1-4 - The motherboard is faulty. Turn off your computer for a while. If this does not help, you will have to replace the motherboard.
3-2-4 - Keyboard controller error. The motherboard may need to be replaced.
3-3-4 - Error when testing video memory. The video card itself may be faulty. Check the installation of the video card in the expansion slot.
4-2-1 - System timer error. The motherboard may need to be replaced.
4-2-3 - Error when operating line A20. The keyboard controller is faulty. Try replacing the motherboard or keyboard controller.
4-2-4 - Error when working in protected mode. The CPU may be faulty.
4-3-1 - Error when testing RAM. Check the installation of modules in the slots. Memory modules may need to be replaced.
4-3-4 - Real time clock error. The motherboard may need to be replaced.
4-4-1 - Serial port test error. May be caused by a device that uses the serial port for its operation.
4-4-2 - Parallel port testing error. May be caused by a device that uses a parallel port for its operation.
4-4-3 - Error when testing the math coprocessor. The motherboard may need to be replaced.
