When you turn on a working PC, after a few seconds one short signal is heard, which should please the ears of any user...

This system unit speaker signals you that the self-test was successful, no faults were found, and the operating system starts loading.
If any problems are detected, the BIOS chip will generate appropriate sound signals in the system speaker.

The nature and sequence of these signals depend on BIOS version.

What do the beeps mean when you turn on your computer?

Award BIOS:

1. No signals - faulty or not connected to motherboard power supply unit (PSU).
Clean it from dust.
Check that the power supply is securely attached to the motherboard.
If this does not help, the power supply unit needs to be replaced or repaired.
2. Continuous signal - the power supply is faulty. See point 1.
3. 1 short signal - no errors detected, PC is working.
4. 1 short repeating signal - problems with the power supply. See point 1.
5. 1 long repeating signal - RAM malfunction. Try removing the RAM module from the slot and inserting it again. If it doesn't help, replace it.
6. 2 short beeps - minor errors detected. Check the reliability of the cables and cables in the motherboard connectors. Set the BIOS to default values ​​(Load BIOS Defaults).
7. 3 long beeps - keyboard controller malfunction. Check the integrity of the keyboard cable and the quality of connections. Test the keyboard on a known-good PC. If this does not help, the motherboard will need to be repaired or replaced.
8. 1 long and 1 short signal - RAM malfunction. See point 5.
9. 1 long and 2 short beeps - video card malfunction. It is recommended to remove the video card and reinsert it. Check the integrity and quality of the monitor cable connection. If that doesn't help, replace the video card.
10. 1 long and 3 short beeps - keyboard malfunction. See paragraph 7.
11. 1 long and 9 short signals - an error when reading data from the BIOS chip.
Rewriting (flashing) of the microcircuit is required. If that doesn't help, replace the chip.

AMI BIOS:

1. There are no signals - the power supply unit (PSU) is faulty or not connected to the motherboard. Clean it from dust. Check that the power supply is securely attached to the motherboard. If this does not help, the power supply unit needs to be replaced or repaired.
2. 1 short signal - no errors detected, PC is working.
3. 2 short beeps - RAM malfunction. Try removing the RAM module from the slot and inserting it again. If it doesn't help, replace it.
4. 3 short beeps - error in the first 64 KB of main memory. See point 3.
5. 4 short beeps - system timer malfunction. Restart your PC. If this does not help, the motherboard will need to be repaired or replaced.
6. 5 short beeps - CPU malfunction. Restart your PC. If this does not help, you will need to replace the processor.
7. 6 short beeps - keyboard controller malfunction. Check the integrity of the keyboard cable and tight connections. Test the keyboard on a known-good PC. If this does not help, the motherboard will need to be repaired or replaced.
8. 7 short beeps - motherboard malfunction. Restart your PC. If this does not help, the motherboard will need to be repaired or replaced.
9. 8 short beeps - video card RAM malfunction. Restart your PC. If that doesn't help, replace the video card.
10. 9 short beeps - error when checking the checksum of the BIOS chip. Rewriting (flashing) of the microcircuit is required. If that doesn't help, replace the chip.
11. 10 short signals - it is impossible to write to the CMOS memory. Reset the memory contents (to do this, turn off the PC, unplug the network cable from the socket. Find the switch next to the CMOS memory battery, set it to the Clear CMOS position. Press - with the network cable disconnected! - the PC power button. Set the switch to its original position. If There is no switch on your motherboard, remove the battery for half an hour or an hour). Set the BIOS to default values ​​(Load BIOS Defaults). If that doesn't help, replace the chip.
12. 11 short beeps - RAM malfunction. See point 3.
13. 1 long and 2 short beeps - video card malfunction. It is recommended to remove the video card and reinsert it. Check the integrity and quality of the monitor cable connection. If that doesn't help, replace the video card.
14. 1 long and 3 short beeps - video card malfunction. See paragraph 13.
15. 1 long and 8 short beeps - video card malfunction. See paragraph 13.

Phoenix BIOS Signals:

1-1-3. CMOS data write/read error.
1-1-4. BIOS chip contents checksum error.
1-2-1. The motherboard is faulty.
1-2-2. DMA controller initialization error.
1-2-3. Error when trying to read/write to one of the DMA channels.
1-3-1. RAM regeneration error.
1-3-3. Error when testing the first 64 KB of RAM.
1-3-4. Similar to the previous one.
1-4-1. The motherboard is faulty.
1-4-2. RAM testing error.
1-4-3. System timer error.
1-4-4. Error accessing I/O port.
2-x-x. Problems with the first 64k of memory (x - from 1 to 4)
3-1-1. Error initializing the second DMA channel.
3-1-2. Error initializing the first DMA channel.
3-1-4. The motherboard is faulty.
3-2-4. Keyboard controller error.
3-3-4. Video memory testing error.
4-2-1. System timer error.
4-2-3. Line error A20. The keyboard controller is faulty.
4-2-4. Error when working in protected mode. The CPU may be faulty.
4-3-1. Error when testing RAM.
4-3-4. Real time clock error.
4-4-1. Serial port test failed. May be caused by a device using this port.
4-4-2. Error while testing parallel port. See above.
4-4-3. Error when testing the math coprocessor.

Attention!!!
1. If you do not feel sufficiently prepared, if problems arise, contact specialists.
2. Perform all manipulations with the hardware with the power turned off!
3. Before starting PC repair, it is necessary to remove the electrostatic charge (for example, by touching the nickel-plated surface of the water tap with both hands).
4. Even after removing the electrostatic charge, try, if possible, not to touch the terminals of the central microprocessor, video adapter processor and other microcircuits.
5. Do not clean oxidized gold-plated contacts of the video card and RAM modules with abrasive materials! For these purposes, you can use an eraser eraser.
6. Remember that most PC “malfunctions” can be “cured” by a simple reboot!
7. If you don’t know which manufacturer’s BIOS is installed on your PC, look at the top line on the monitor screen when booting, for example, for Award there will be a line like Award Modular BIOS, for AMI - American Megatrends, Inc. The BIOS version must also be indicated in the passport of your PC.

When turned on, a working computer emits one short beep using the built-in system speaker - speaker. If your computer beeps more than once, there is a problem. To find out what the beeps mean, check your motherboard's manual. Below are general signal definitions for various BIOSes.

Beeps for AMI BIOS

Sound signals for AWARD BIOS

Phoenix BIOS beeps

AMI BIOS of all versions inform the user about the successful completion of the self-test procedure with a characteristic “squeak” - one long sound signal, after which control is transferred to the operating system loader.

So that you can hear this beep, system unit Computers or laptops must be equipped with a system speaker - a built-in tweeter. Alas, this condition is not always met. Sometimes the manufacturer saves on a cheap accessory, and loading occurs in complete silence.

If something went wrong, during the passage POST procedures If certain problems are detected, the computer's BIOS will report this using a combination of several sound signals indicating a faulty component. In most cases, when the problems do not affect the video card, you will also see an error message on the computer screen. But if the video card failed to initialize (for example, it itself is the source of problems), sound signals remain the only way to localize the problem.

Old versions of AMI BIOS used a fairly large number of various combinations. All of them are summarized in one table.

Do not forget all manipulations with computer hardware components, such as replacing memory modules, removing and adding expansion cards, etc. can only be carried out if the computer is completely de-energized - it must be physically disconnected from the power supply. Before opening the case of the system unit, it is recommended to remove the power plug of the system unit from the outlet. This will ensure that there is no standby power supply to the motherboard, plus, you will protect yourself from possible electric shock.

Modern versions of AMI BIOS are much more “modest”; the number of signals has been significantly reduced: now only simple combinations of short signals are used.

Moreover, in the latest revisions of AMI BIOS, sequences of 1 long, 1, 3, 6, 7 or 8 short beeps remain; other combinations are no longer used.

Separately, it is worth noting a continuous sound signal that changes in tone, reminiscent of a siren. It can be caused by two reasons: a faulty power supply, or overheating of the computer. If you have access to the insides of the system unit, check all power connectors on the motherboard, check that the radiators are properly attached, and that all fans on the coolers are working.

System BIOS signals This is a very good thing from the point of view of computer diagnostics. And almost always, when nothing is displayed on the screen by the number and type of signals from the system speaker (provided, of course, that it is connected), you can determine what the problem is and in which direction to start digging.

What do 1 long and 2 short beeps mean when you start your computer?

So, if your computer does not display an image on the monitor when turned on, and the system unit beeps one long and two short beeps, then in most cases the problem lies in the video card or its connector on the motherboard.

Less common depending on manufacturer BIOS problem may be in RAM.

There are also cases when the motherboard did not support the processor installed in it at the BIOS level and signaled with a well-known sequence of signals.

Solution

The first place to start is to decide this problem This is the removal and reinstallation of the video card from its slot and wiping the contacts on it with an eraser.

Installation and removal of the video card to solve the problem of one short and two long signals BIOS when turning on the computer

If you do not have an external video card installed, but use a built-in one, then try installing an external one, having first borrowed it from someone. It is possible that the built-in video card has failed.

Don't forget to do a visual inspection of the motherboard for swollen capacitors. If they are, then most likely they will be the culprits.

Reason 1 long 2 short BIOS beeps - swollen motherboard capacitors

Next, what needs to be done to solve the problem of 1 long and 2 short signals when starting the computer is to remove and reinsert the RAM. Moreover, if there are several memory sticks, then it is advisable to try each of them in different slots separately. At the same time, on each memory stick we also wipe the contacts with a regular office eraser.

From possible reasons given sequence of signals - RAM

If you hear this combination after all the steps described above and this happened immediately after installing a new processor or assembling a new computer, then it is very likely that the problem is incompatibility of the processor, video card or memory with the motherboard. To check this, you need to go to the official website of your motherboard manufacturer and look at the processor and RAM in the compatibility list.

If none of the above helped, write your problem in the comments.

We turn on the computer... but it doesn’t turn on. Everyone is panicking! Many people do just that, immediately panicking and thinking up something incomprehensible. But here it is important to remember this.

When you turn on the computer, the diagnostic program starts every time Power-On-Self-Test (POST), which checks the most important components of the computer (from the central processor to the keyboard controller).
The test results are displayed on the computer speaker in the form of a special sound signal. I think you heard at least one peak, but did not attach any importance to it. So these signals allow you to see the direction where to dig, where to look for the problem.

Since the manufacturer BIOS not one, then the sound signals differ for each of them. Below are transcripts of signals from some manufacturers.

Award BIOS

AMI BIOS

Phoenix BIOS