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Diagnosing Beep Codes
Different manufacturers have different signals they send out through the PC speaker when the system can’t boot as far as the video display. Unfortunately, there is no uniform standard for beep codes. The following tables list some of the more popular manufacturer’s codes. Remember, however, that there is a lot of variance between different versions even by the same manufacturer.
AMI BIOS BEEP CODES
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Beep Sequence
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Cause of Error
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Possible Solution
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1 short
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DRAM refresh failure
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Failure of the programmable interrupt or possibly the interrupt controller. Problem with the motherboard.
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2 short
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Memory parity error
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Parity read error in the lower 64K. Bad chip.
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3 short
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Base 64K memory failure
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Memory read/write error in the lower 64K of RAM. Bad chip.
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4 short
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System timer failure
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Usually means that the system clock/timer failed. That’s a problem with the motherboard. It can also indicate is a memory error in the first bank of memory. Try swapping out memory before replacing the board.
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5 short
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Processor initialization error
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System got power. CPU didn’t run POST.
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This is a problem with the keyboard. If replacing the keyboard doesn’t help, it’s the KB controller on the motherboard.
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Virtual mode processor exception error
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Bad CPU just about every time.
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Read/write error in the video card memory
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Try reseating the video card. If this doesn’t work try a new card.
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The system BIOS ROM is probably corrupted and needs to be replaced. If it’s a flashable BIOS, flash a new one. If not, order a new ROM-BIOS chip.
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CMOS shutdown register read/write error
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The shutdown for the CMOS has failed
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Bad L2 cache. If the L2 is in the CPU, that means replace the CPU.
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Try reseating the video card. If this doesn’t work try a new card.
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POST detected bad system RAM. Try replacing the memory modules.
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Try reseating the video card. If this doesn’t work try a new card.
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One of the hardware tests failed, but the BIOS doesn’t have a clue which one.
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POST has passed all tests
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This is the one beep you WANT to hear.
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AWARD BIOS BEEP CODES
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Beep Sequence
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Cause of Error
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Possible Solution
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1long, 2 short
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Video adapter error
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Make sure the video card is seated properly. If it is and the problem won’t go away, try a different card.
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Constant Beeps
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Memory Fault
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Make sure memory is installed. Make sure all modules are properly seated. If neither is the case, try new memory.
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1long, 3short
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Video Memory Not Detected
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Make sure the video card is properly seated. If this doesn’t help try a different card.
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High frequency beeps while system is running
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CPU is running hot
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Make sure the CPU fan is working properly. Make sure that nothing is blocking the ventilation holes in the enclosure.
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Repeating High/Low
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CPU Error
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CPU may not be seated properly. CPU may have failed or it may be overheated. See above.
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Beep Sequence
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Cause of Error
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Possible Solution
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1 short
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No error
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Get to work.
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1 long, 1 short
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BIOS ROM checksum error
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If possible, reload the BIOS from the Restore CD.
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2 short
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General error
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Occurs because of so many things it’s useless.
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1 long, 2 short
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Video error
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Make sure the video card is properly seated. If this doesn’t help, try a different card.
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7 beeps – 4 alternating long and short followed by 1 long and two short
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AGP video
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Make sure the video card is properly seated. If this doesn’t help, try a different card. This code is specific to Compaq Deskpro systems.
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1 long neverending beep
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Bad RAM
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Check to make sure memory is properly seated. If so, replace memory module.
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1 short, 2 long
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Bad RAM
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Check to make sure memory is properly seated. If so, replace memory module.
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Beep Sequence
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Cause of Error
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Possible Solution
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1 - 2
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Video card not detected
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Try reseating the video card. If error recurs consider replacing card.
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1 - 2 - 2 - 3
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BIOS ROM checksum error
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If possible, reset CMOS to factory defaults. If this doesn’t work, flash a new version of the BIOS.
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1 - 3 - 1 - 1
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DRAM refresh error
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Make sure memory modules are firmly seated. Run diagnostics on memory. If memory fails diagnostics, replace it.
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1 - 3 - 1 - 3
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Keyboard Controller error
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Make sure keyboard is plugged in firmly. If this does not solve problem, try a new keyboard.
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1 - 3 - 3 - 1
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Memory not present or failed to pass diagnostics
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Make sure memory modules are firmly seated. Run diagnostics on memory. If memory fails diagnostics, replace it.
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1 - 3 - 4 - 1
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Memory failed diagnostics.
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Make sure memory modules are firmly seated. Run diagnostics on memory. If memory fails diagnostics, replace it.
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1 - 3 - 4 - 3
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Failure in lower memory registers
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Make sure memory modules are firmly seated. Run diagnostics on memory. If memory fails diagnostics, replace it.
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1 - 4 - 1 - 1
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Failure in higher memory registers
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Make sure memory modules are firmly seated. Run diagnostics on memory. If memory fails diagnostics, replace it.
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IBM Desktop BIOS Beep Codes
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Beep Sequence
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Cause of Error
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Possible Solution
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1 short
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No Error
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Stop trying to diagnose the problem.
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2 short
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Initialization error
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The error code displayed on the screen indicates the problem.
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1 long, 1 short
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System board failure
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Replace motherboard
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1 long, 2 short
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Video adapter error
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If using a separate adapter, make sure video card is seated. If this isn’t the problem, replace video card. If onboard video, replace motherboard.
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1 long, 3 short
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EGA/VGA adapter error
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If using a separate adapter, make sure video card is seated. If this isn’t the problem, replace video card. If onboard video, replace motherboard.
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3 long
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3270 keyboard adapter error
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Replace keyboard
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Continuous
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Power supply error
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Replace the power supply
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9L 9S
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Power supply error
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Replace the power supply
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No beep
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Power supply
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Replace the power supply
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IBM Thinkpad BIOS Beep Codes
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Beep Sequence
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Cause of Error
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Possible Solution
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Continuous beeping
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System Board Failure
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Replace motherboard
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One beep
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Video adapter or LCD failure. Possibly power supply or system board as well.
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Try reseating all cables between system board and LCD. Test power supply voltages.
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One beep (May receive message "Unable to access boot source")
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Most likely hard disk failure; may be system board failure
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May simply mean the disk hasn’t been initialized. If the disk was working before, see if the CMOS detects it. If not, possible bad drive. If a new hard disk is available, try replacing the drive. If this fails, it’s the motherboard.
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One long, two short beeps
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System board, video adapter or LCD assembly.
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In order: probable system board failure. If under warranty, have them ship a video adapter as well. If these don’t fix it, it’s the LCD
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One long, four short beeps
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Low battery voltage
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Charge battery. If it won’t hold a charge, replace it.
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One beep every second
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Low battery voltage
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Charge battery. If it won’t hold a charge, replace it.
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Two short beeps with error codes
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POST Failure.
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This error doesn’t provide enough information to be useful.
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Two short beeps
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System board failure
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Replace System Board
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Beep Sequence
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Cause of Error
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Possible Solution
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1
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Normal boot
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Why are you troubleshooting?
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2
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Video adapter error
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The video adapter is either faulty or not seated properly. Check the adapter
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3
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Keyboard controller error
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Replace the keyboard
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4
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Keyboard error
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Replace the keyboard. If this doesn’t help, the keyboard controller on the motherboard is faulty.
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5
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PIC 0 error
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Programmable Interrupt Controller failed. Bad motherboard.
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6
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PIC 1 error
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Programmable Interrupt Controller failed. Bad motherboard.
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7
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DMA page register error
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May be the DMA controller, may be caused by device. Remove sound cards and floppy cable and reboot. If problem persists, replace motherboard.
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8
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RAM refresh error
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May be bad memory, may be a bad memory control circuit. Try replacing the RAM modules one by one. If this fails, replace motherboard.
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9
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RAM data error
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May be bad memory, may be a bad memory control circuit. Try replacing the RAM modules one by one. If this fails, replace motherboard.
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10
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RAM parity error
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May be bad memory, may be a bad memory control circuit. Try replacing the RAM modules one by one. If this fails, replace motherboard.
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11
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DMA controller 0 error
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May be the DMA controller, may be caused by device. Remove sound cards and floppy cable and reboot. If problem persists, replace motherboard.
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12
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CMOS RAM error
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This isn’t the system memory. Replace motherboard.
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13
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DMA controller 1 error
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May be the DMA controller, may be caused by device. Remove sound cards and floppy cable and reboot. If problem persists, replace motherboard.
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14
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CMOS RAM battery error
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Replace battery on motherboard.
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15
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CMOS RAM checksum error
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This isn’t the system memory. Replace motherboard.
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16
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BIOS ROM checksum error
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If possible, flash a new BIOS. If not Flash BIOS, replace BIOS chip.
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Beep Sequence
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Cause of Error
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Possible Solution
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1-1-2
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CPU test failure
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Bad CPU. Replace it.
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1-1-3
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CMOS read/write error
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If possible, flash a new BIOS. If not Flash BIOS, replace BIOS chip.
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Low 1-1-3
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Extended CMOS RAM failure
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CMOS RAM above 1MB has failed. Replace the CMOS chip if possible
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1-1-4
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BIOS ROM checksum error
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If possible, flash a new BIOS. If not Flash BIOS, replace BIOS chip.
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1-2-1
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PIT failure
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Programmable Interrupt Timer failed. Replace motherboard.
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1-2-2
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DMA failure
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May be the DMA controller, may be caused by device. Remove sound cards and floppy cable and reboot. If problem persists, replace motherboard.
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1-2-3
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DMA read/write failure
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May be the DMA controller, may be caused by device. Remove sound cards and floppy cable and reboot. If problem persists, replace motherboard.
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1-3-1
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RAM refresh failure
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Memory control circuitry has failed. Replace motherboard.
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1-3-2
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64KB RAM failure
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Replace memory module in first bank.
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1-3-3
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First 64KB RAM failure
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Replace memory module in first bank.
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1-3-4
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First 64KB logic failure
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Replace memory module in first bank.
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1-4-1
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Address line failure
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May be a memory problem, may be a problem with the motherboard. Replace memory module in first bank. If this fails, replace motherboard.
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1-4-2
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Parity RAM failure
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Replace memory module in first bank.
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1-4-3
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EISA fail-safe timer test
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Replace the motherboard
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1-4-4
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EISA NMI port 462 test
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Replace the motherboard
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2-1-1
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64KB RAM failure
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Replace memory module in first bank.
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2-1-2
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64KB RAM failure
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Replace memory module in first bank.
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2-1-3
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64KB RAM failure
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Replace memory module in first bank.
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2-1-4
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64KB RAM failure
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Replace memory module in first bank.
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2-2-1
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64KB RAM failure
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Replace memory module in first bank.
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2-2-2
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64KB RAM failure
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Replace memory module in first bank.
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2-2-3
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64KB RAM failure
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Replace memory module in first bank.
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2-2-4
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64KB RAM failure
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Replace memory module in first bank.
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2-3-1
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64KB RAM failure
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Replace memory module in first bank.
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2-3-2
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64KB RAM failure
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Replace memory module in first bank.
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2-3-3
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64KB RAM failure
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Replace memory module in first bank.
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2-3-4
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64KB RAM failure
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Replace memory module in first bank.
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2-4-1
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64KB RAM failure
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Replace memory module in first bank.
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2-4-2
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64KB RAM failure
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Replace memory module in first bank.
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2-4-3
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64KB RAM failure
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Replace memory module in first bank.
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2-4-4
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64KB RAM failure
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Replace memory module in first bank.
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3-1-1
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Slave DMA register failure
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May be the DMA controller, may be caused by device. Remove sound cards and floppy cable and reboot. If problem persists, replace motherboard.
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3-1-2
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Master DMA register failure
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May be the DMA controller, may be caused by device. Remove sound cards and floppy cable and reboot. If problem persists, replace motherboard.
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