Computer Beep Codes and Solutions of Dell, HP and ASUS PC

20 June 2019  Amanda J. Brook  Senior Product Manager
 

Summary
Start up PC but just black screen and computer generate beep sounds? Actually, these beep codes are generated by BIOS and different beep codes represent different problems. Here, we provide detailed information and solution about the beep codes from Dell, HP, ASUS computer and more BIOS manufacturers.

Start up your computer but nothing display on the monitor. Besides, computer gives some beep sounds.
What is the problem? In fact, these beep code is generated by the internal speaker of the computer. On startup, computer will perform a Power-on Self Test which will test all hardware in computer. If some thing wrong, beep code will be generated and tell you what is wrong.

Possible reasons which may lead to the failure of hardware:

1.Hardware is damaged or has poor connection with motherboard. Also, dust will lead to short circuit.
2. Incorrect settings in BIOS.

Notice: If your hear your hard disk keep clicking, please refer to How to Fix Hard Drive Clicking Noise and Recover Data From Hard Drive for solutions.

What is BIOS?

Standing for Basic Input Output System, BIOS is a standard firmware interface. All information of BIOS will be saved in CMOS of motherboard.

BIOS is responsible for the POST (Power On Self Test) and load the IPL or system in hard disk. However, BIOS has been replaced by UEFI since 21st century.

Catalog

What should be paid attention to when we encounter the beep code at the first time

Computer POST and Beep Codes of Main Computer Manufacturers

◆ Dell Beep Codes Diagnostic and Solution

◆ HP Beep Codes Diagnostic and Solution

◆ Lenovo – ThinkPad Beep Codes Diagnostic and Solution

◆ ASUS Beep Codes Diagnostic and Solution

Beep Codes Diagnostic and Solution of Other BIOS Manufacturers

◆ Phoenix BIOS Beep Codes Diagnostic and Solution

◆ Award BIOS Beep Codes Diagnostic and Solution

◆ AMI (American Megatrends) Beep Codes Diagnostic and Solution

Solution to Windows Fail to boot and Beeps

◆ Open Computer Case and Check Hardware Inside

◆ Clean Hardware of Computer

◆ Reset BIOS Settings by Removing the CMOS Battery

◆ PC can not Find RAM

Advanced Methods to Solve Windows Fails to Boot

How to Maintain PC

What Should Be Paid Attention to When Encounter Beep Code at the First Time

1.In facts, besides the number of beep codes, long beep codes and short beep codes could also represent different causes.

Long beeps:

Short beeps:

2.Sometimes, beep sound pause for a second and then go on. For example, 1 long beep and 2 short beeps are divided by 1 second pause here.

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Computer POST and Beep Codes of Main Computer Manufacturers

Different beep codes represents different hardware problems. However, BIOS produced by different manufacturers will generate different beeps codes. When computer generate beep codes, we need to find out the manufactures of BIOS in desktop and laptop.

Here are some effective way to find out the manufacturer:

1. If your computer is manufactured by some famous computer brands like Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS and NEC, BIOS/UEFI inside normally is developed by the brand themselves. So we can find the meaning of beep codes in accordance with the brand.

2. If the BIOS of your computer is not manufactured by famous brands or is assemble by yourself, BIOS inside the computer could be manufactured by AMI (American Megatrends), Phoenix (Phoenix Technologies) and Award. For these computer, we can refer to the manual or Beep Codes Diagnostic and Solution of Other BIOS Manufacturers for the meaning of different beep codes.

Of course, BIOS of virtual machine like Vmware, Virtual PC, VirtualBOX are not included here.

◆ Dell Beep Codes Diagnostic and Solution

Beep codes of DELL computers could be divided into 2 types. One is from old machines and the other is from later machines which is manufactured after 2005.

Beeps Codes generate by Dell Computers which are manufactured before 2005

Example:

1-1-2 represents 1 beep then 1 beep again finally 2 beeps.

Beep Codes	Cause and Related Solutions
1-1-2	Cause: Something wrong with CPU. Solution: Replace the CPU.
1-1-3	Cause: Fails to read/write to NVRAM. Solution: CMOS which save BIOS information could be damaged. Please remove dust off the motherboard with vacuum cleanser and small brush. If same problem happens, please replace the hardware.
1-1-4	Cause: CMOS which save BIOS information gets damaged. Solution: Reset BIOS by removing CMOS battery. If it does not work, please replace or refresh CMOS hardware.
1-2-3	Cause: Fail to read/write to DMA page (Direct Memory Access) of BIOS. Solution: Please remove dust off the motherboard with vacuum cleanser and small brush. Then clean the connectors of RAM with eraser. If it still not work, please replace the RAM.
1-3	Cause: RAM of video card get damaged. Solution: Replace the video card or the RAM inside the video card.
1-3-1, 1-3-2 through 2-4-4	Cause: DIMMs not being properly identified or used. Solution: Clean the connector of computer memory card and the slots. Please refer to “BIOS can not Find RAM” for detailed solution.
3-1-1	Cause: Registry error of IDE slave hard disk. Solution: Change the settings of master/slave disk. Or disconnect the slave IDE disk.
3-1-2	Cause: Keyboard Controller Failure. Solution: Connect another keyboard or the port.
3-2-4	Cause: Time-of-day clock get incorrect or keyboard controller failure. Solution: Connect another keyboard or the port.
3-3-3	Cause: Time-of-day clock get incorrect or keyboard controller failure. Solution: Connect another keyboard or the port.
3-3-4, 3-4-1, 3-4-2 and 3-4-3	Cause: Video card failure. Solution: Clean the connector of the video card and the slots (Refer to BIOS reports video card failure” for detailed solution). If it still not work, please replace the video card.

Beeps Codes generate by Dell Computers which are manufactured after 2005

Beep Codes	Cause and Related Solutions
1 short beep	Cause: Motherboard fails to work, including BIOS damaged and ROM error. Solution: Replace or repair the motherboard.
2 short beeps	Cause: No memory detected. Solution: Clean the connector of the memory and the slots or replace the memory.
3 short beeps	Cause: Chip or Time-Of-Day Clock test failure. Solution: Reset BIOS by removing CMOS battery. If it does not work, please remove dust off motherboard with vacuum cleanser and small brush. If same problem happens, please replace the motherboard.
4 short beeps	Cause: Memory of motherboard failure. Solution: Clean the connector of the memory and the slots or replace the memory.
5 short beeps	Cause: Battery of Time-Of-Day Clock failure. Solution: Reset BIOS by removing CMOS battery.
6 short beeps	Cause: Video card failure or has poor connection. Solution: Clean the connector of the video card and the slots or replace the video card.
7 short beeps	Cause: CPU failure Solution: Replace the CPU.

◆ HP Beep Codes Diagnostic and Solution

Example:

1-1-2 represents 1 beep then 1 beep again finally 2 beeps.

Beep Codes	Cause and Related Solutions
3 short beeps	Cause: Unable to start flashing (such as when missing a utility or BIOS image). Solution: Disconnect the mouse and keyboard, and then restart the computer. If the beeping noise stops, repair or replace those devices.
4 short beeps	Cause: Flashing failed (checksum error, corrupted image, etc). Solution: Clean the connector of the memory and the slots or reseat the memory.
5 short beeps	Cause: BIOS recovery successful.
2 short beeps, 2 long beeps	Cause: BIOS recovery successful.

◆ Lenovo – ThinkPad Beep Codes Diagnostic and Solution

Beeps Codes generate by Lenovo – ThinkPad which are manufactured before 2017

Example:

1-1-2 represents 1 beep then 1 beep again finally 2 beeps.

Beep Codes	Causes and Related Solutions
Continuously short beeps or 2 short beeps	Cause: Motherboard fails to work, including BIOS damaged and ROM error. Solution: Replace or repair the motherboard.
1 short beep and no display or keep blinking	Cause: Cloud be the problem of the motherboard. Solution: Reset BIOS by removing CMOS battery. Remove dust off the motherboard with vacuum cleanser and small brush (Click for more). If necessary, please replace or repair the motherboard.
1 short beep and screen shows “Unable to access boot source”	Cause: Hard disk failure and can not find system. Solution: Reinstall Windows/Linux.
1 long beep then 2 short beeps	Cause: Video card failure or has poor connection. Solution: Clean the connector of the video card and the slots or replace the video card. ClickBIOS reports video card failure for detailed solution.
1-3-3-1 : 1 long beep then 3 short beeps and 3 short beeps finally 1 long beep	Cause: Memory of motherboard failure. Solution: Clean the connector of the memory and the slots or replace the memory. Please refer to “PC can not Find RAM” for details.
1-4	Cause: Security chip of the motherboard get something wrong. Solution: Replace or repair the motherboard.
2 Short beeps	Cause: Depends on the error code on screen.

Beeps Codes generate by Lenovo – ThinkPad which are manufactured after 2017

SmartBeep has been accepted in the Lenovo PC which are manufactured after 2017. As a result, uses do not need to get detailed information from the beep code. Just go to find and download “Lenovo PC Diagnostics” in APP Store with mobile phone.

◆ ASUS Beep Codes Diagnostic and Solution

For most computers manufactured by ASUS are equipped with BIOS from AMI. If you can not find the beep code you have encounter when using the ASUS computer, please refer to “AMI (American Megatrends) Beep Codes Diagnostic and Solution” for more.

Beep Codes	Cause and Related Solutions
1 long beep then 2 short beeps (Continuously)	Cause: Memory of motherboard failure. Solution: Clean the connector of the memory and the slots or replace the memory. Please refer to “BIOS can not Find RAM” for detailed solution.
1 long beep and 3 short beeps	Cause: Video card failure or has poor connection. Solution: Clean the connector of the video card and the slots (Refer to BIOS reports video card failure for detailed solution). If it still not work, please replace a new video card.
1 long beep and 4 short beeps	Cause: Hard disk failure and can not find system. Solution: Reinstall Windows/Linux.

How to Identify the Manufacturers of your Computer BIOS?

Parts of computers are not from famous brand or assembled by users themselves. BIOS of these computer are pre-installed in the motherboards. These pre-installed BIOS are usually from AMI (American Megatrends), Phoenix (Phoenix Technology) and Award.

However, we can not find out the manufacturers of the BIOS since we can not get into the system. But we can find it out with some other methods.

(1) Refer to your computer manual. Search the screenshot of the BIOS after you find out the model of the motherboard.

Such as motherboard GA-Z97X-UD5H from GigaByte. Please search for image with keywords “GA-Z97X-UD5H” and “BIOS”. Then we could find the BIOS chip is from AMI. Please pay attention to the left-bottom corner to find “American Megatrends”, “Phoenix” or “Award”.

(2) Pay attention to the beep code

If the beep codes it generates have long beep and short beep, the BIOS are from Awards. If it is continuous short beep codes, the BIOS could be from AMI.

◆ Phoenix BIOS Beep Codes Diagnostic and Solution

Beep Codes	Causes and Solution
1 short and PC starts normally	All is well.
3 short beeps	Cause: Fail to process the POST stage.
1-1-2	Cause: Motherboard failure. Solution: Reset BIOS by removing CMOS battery. If it does not work, please replace or refresh CMOS hardware.
1-1-3, 1-1-4 and 1-2-1	Cause: Battery is out of power or CMOS damaged. Solution: Replace the CMOS battery.
1-2-2, 1-2-3, 1-3-1, 1-3-2, 1-3-3, 1-4-1, 1-4-2, 1-4-3, 1-4-4, 2-1-1 and 4-3-1	Cause: Detected memory fails when saving data. Solution: Clean the connector of the memory and the slots or replace the memory. Please refer to “BIOS can not Find RAM” for detailed solution.
3-2-4 and 4-2-3	Cause: Keyboard failure. Solution: Connect another keyboard or the port.
3-3-4, 3-4-2 and 3-4-3	Cause: Video card failure or has poor connection. Solution: Clean the connector of the video card and the slots. If it does not work, please refer to “BIOS reports video card failure” for detailed solution.
4-2-2, 4-3-3, 4-3-4 and 4-4-3	Cause: Motherboard fails to work, including BIOS damaged and ROM error. Solution: Reset BIOS by removing CMOS battery. If it does not work, please replace or refresh CMOS hardware.

◆ Award BIOS Beep Codes Diagnostic and Solutions

Beep Codes	Causes and Solutions
1 long – 2 short beeps	Cause: Motherboard failure. Solution: Please remove dust off the BIOS with vacuum cleanser and small brush. Then reset BIOS by removing CMOS battery. If it does not work, please replace or refresh CMOS hardware.
1 long – 3 shorts	Cause: Video card failure or has poor connection. Solution: Clean the connector of the video card and the slots (Refer to “BIOS reports video card failure” for detailed solution).
Beeps continuously	Cause: Memory of motherboard failure. Solution: Clean the connector of the memory and the slots or replace the memory. Please refer to “ BIOS can not Find Computer Memory Card” for detailed solution.
Repeated beeps alternating high & low frequency	Cause: CPU failure. Solution: Replace the CPU.

◆ AMI (American Megatrends) Beep Codes Diagnostic and Solution

BIOS manufactured by AMI are adopted in most ASUS motherboard. So, parts of the beep code will be the same.

Beep Codes	Causes and Solutions
1 to 3 short beeps Example: 3 short beeps	Cause: Memory of motherboard failure. Solution: Clean the connector of the memory and the slots or replace the memory. Please refer to “BIOS can not Find RAM” for detailed solution.
4 short beeps	Cause: System timer failure. Solution: Reset BIOS by removing CMOS battery. If it does not work, please replace or refresh CMOS hardware.
5 short beeps or 11 short beeps	Cause: CPU failure. Solution: Please remove dust off the motherboard with vacuum cleanser and small brush (Click “How to clean BIOS” for more). If it does not work, please replace the CPU.
6 short beeps	Cause: Gate A20 error. It could be caused by the dust in hardware. As a result, PC could get overheated and short circuit. Solution: Please remove dust off the motherboard with vacuum cleanser and small brush (Click “How to clean BIOS” for more).
7 short beeps	Cause: Circuit of the motherboard or CPU get error. Solution: Please remove dust off the motherboard with vacuum cleanser and small brush (Click “How to clean BIOS)” for more.
8 short beeps	Cause: Video card failure or has poor connection. Solution: Clean the connector of the video card and the slots (Refer to “BIOS reports video card failure” for detailed solution).
9 short beeps	Cause: RMO BIOS checksum failure. Solution: Reset BIOS by removing CMOS battery. If it does not work, please replace or refresh CMOS hardware.
10 short beeps	Cause: CMOS shutdown Read/Write error. Solution: Reset BIOS by removing CMOS battery. If it does not work, please replace or refresh CMOS hardware.
1 long and 2 short beeps	Cause: Video card failure or has poor connection. Solution: Clean the connector of the video card and the slots (Refer to “BIOS reports video card failure” for detailed solution).
1 long and 3 short beeps	Cause: Memory of motherboard failure. Solution: Clean the connector of the memory and the slots or replace the memory. Please refer to “BIOS can not Find RAM” for details.

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Solution to Windows Fails to boot and Beeps

◆ Open Computer Case and Check Hardware Inside

Essential Tools: Phillips screwdriver with magnetic tip cross head and insulated gloves.

Detailed Steps:

Step 1: Open the computer case with Phillips screwdriver after wearing the insulated gloves.

Step 2: Check the hardware and fan inside carefully. If the fan stops spinning, parts of hardware may get overheated and finally fail to work. Once we find fan fails to work, please replace it asap.

Step 3: Check whether your case is lousy with dust.

Plenty of hardware problem like short circuit and computer fail to boot can be caused by dusty hardware. Like the image below, the build up dust make computer fails to detect the memory. To help the computer case from being dusty, it is recommended to install the dust filter and remove dust off computer once a year. Here we go.

◆ Clean Hardware of Computer

Essential Tools: Vacuum cleanser and small paint brush.

In most case, computer hardware failing to work is caused by the build-up dust instead of damaged. However, dusty case sometimes may lead to short circuit and even damage the hardware at last. As a result, we need to clean the dust off the computer case regularly.

Attention: If the dust is heavy inside the case, please do not use hair dryer or blast blower to remove the dust.

Detailed Steps:

Step 1: Use the wand of the vacuum cleanser.

Step 2: Remove all cables from the case especially the power cable.

Step 3: Vacuum the case carefully to remove dust off. Then use the brush for removal of stuff that get stuck.

◆ Reset BIOS Settings by Removing the CMOS Battery

Sometimes Windows fails to boot could be caused by incorrect BIOS settings or CMOS component fail to work. Here we need to remove CMOS battery to reset BIOS and recover computer.

Essential Tools: Phillips screwdriver with magnetic tip cross head, tweezers and insulated gloves.

Attention: We must remove the power cable here.

Detailed Steps:

Step 1: Remove power cable from computer case. Open the computer case with Phillips screwdriver after wearing the insulated gloves.

Step 2: Find the battery inside the case and remove it with the tweezers.

Step 3: Reinsert the battery back after 30 minutes. And restart computer.

Attention: Please make sure that you have put the batter in the right direction. The slightly smaller side should be facing down.

◆ PC can not Find RAM

Essential tools: Phillips screwdriver with magnetic tip cross head, tweezers, small brush, eraser and insulated gloves.

Attention: We must remove the power cable here.

Detailed Steps:

Step 1: Remove the power cable and open the case with Phillips screwdriver.

Step 2: Eject the RAM by pressingly firmly on the tabs on the motherboard at either end of the slots. The memory sticks will pop out and please remove them gently.

Step 3: Clean the connector of the RAM with eraser carefully.

Step 4: Clean the RAM slots with vacuum cleanser and brush.

Step 5: Install the memory stick.

◆ BIOS Reports Video Card Failure

The operation is similar to steps in “PC can not Find RAM Memory”. Please clean the connector of the video card and the video card slots.

Attention: Some computer does not have independent video card. And it may integrated to the motherboard. Here, we can clean the motherboard. If same problem happens after cleaning, please replace or repair the motherboard.

Advanced Methods to Solve Windows Fails to Boot

Sometime, we can not find the real problem just with the BIOS beep code. Here, we can make use of the “POST test card” to get detailed information.

How does the POST Test Card Work?

BIOS will test the circuit, memory, keyboard, video card, hard disk, etc when computer starts. Also, it will initialize the settings of some basic ports which has been set. If all processes are fine, system will boot normally. BIOS will send related POST code to PCI (80H or other ports) after going through each step here.

If something goes wrong, the boot process will stop and related post code will be sent to specific BIOS system port. And the POST test card here is to show the POST code.

How to Use the POST Test Card

Normally, we can plug the POST test card into PCI slot. POST test card in the image below are an advanced PCI POST test card. Users can get the POST code from the screen directly.

However, some POST test cards only have LED display only shows numbers which needs users to refer to the manual for detailed problem.

How to Maintain PC?

Do not reseat the video card and RAM often. Have the computer case avoid sun exposure and remove dust from computer case regularly. Also creating backup for computer and system regularly is also very important. Here we can make use of the advance free backup & restore software – Renee Becca.

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