KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q85636: AMI BIOS POST Beep Codes

Article: Q85636
Product(s): Microsoft Disk Operating System
Version(s): MS-DOS:1.x,2.x,3.x,4.x,5.x,6.x
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 17-DEC-2000

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 1.x, 2.11, 3.1, 3.2, 3.21, 3.3, 3.3a, 4.0, 4.01, 5.0, 5.0a, 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, 6.22 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

American Megatrends, Inc. (AMI) BIOS will produce audible beeps associated with
beep codes during the power-on self test (POST). Depending upon the condition, a
predefined number of beeps are sounded, which are associated with the error
messages below.

NOTE: Some systems produce beeps as part of the normal boot sequence. This
article refers to beeps produced by the AMI ROM BIOS before the operating system
loads.

MS-DOS does not produce beep codes.

MORE INFORMATION
================

The error messages associated with the AMI BIOS beep codes are as follows:

Number of Beeps      Error Message
---------------      -------------

      1             DRAM refresh failure
      2             Parity circuit failure
      3             Base 64K RAM failure
      4             System timer failure
      5             Processor failure
      6             Keyboard controller gate A20 error
      7             Virtual mode exception error
      8             Display memory R/W test failure
      9             ROM-BIOS checksum failure

These errors are codes reported by the system BIOS. Because the errors are
hardware related, you should call your hardware manufacturer or reseller for
help in correcting the problem.

The product included here, AMI BIOS, is manufactured by vendors independent of
Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's
performance or reliability.

Additional query words: beep ami bios bootup boot sequence beeping 4.0 4.0a 4.01 4.01a 5.0 5.00 5.0a 5.00a 6.0 6.20,6.21, 6.22 6.3rdparty noupd

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS321 kbMSDOS400 kbMSDOS1xSearch kbMSDOS320 kbMSDOS330a kbMSDOS621 kbMSDOS622 kbMSDOS620 kbMSDOS600 kbMSDOS310 kbMSDOS500 kbMSDOS330 kbMSDOS401 kbMSDOS500a kbMSDOS211
Version           : MS-DOS:1.x,2.x,3.x,4.x,5.x,6.x

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.