Chapter 6: Troubleshooting

■If you have the correct test equipment, make sure that the new battery has power. Although unlikely, your new battery may be defective.

Beep codes

Whenever a recoverable error occurs during the power-on self-test (POST), the BIOS displays an error message that describes the problem. The BIOS also sounds a beep code (one long tone followed by two short tones) during POST if the video configuration fails (a faulty video controller) or if an expansion card is not functioning correctly. One short beep indicates the BIOS will boot the operating system. No error found.

A PCI expansion card (for example, a RAID controller) can also issue audible errors by itself, usually consisting of one long tone followed by a series of short tones. For more information on the beep codes issued, check the documentation for that device.

The following table shows POST error beep codes. Prior to system video initialization, BIOS uses these codes to inform users of error conditions.

Beeps

Description

Troubleshooting steps

 

 

 

1

Memory refresh timer error

Reseat the memory modules or replace with

 

 

modules you know are good.

 

 

 

2

Parity error in the first 64 KB of memory.

Same as for 1 beep.

 

 

 

3

Base memory read/write test error

Same as for 1 beep.

 

 

 

4

System board timer not operational.

Possible system board malfunction. To

 

 

eliminate the possibility of an add in-card

 

 

problem, remove all expansion cards.

 

 

■ If the beep code occurs even when all

 

 

expansion cards have been removed, the

 

 

system board is at fault.

 

 

■ If the beep code does not occur when the

 

 

expansion cards have been removed, one

 

 

of the cards is causing the problem. Install

 

 

the cards one at a time until the problem

 

 

happens again. When the beep code

 

 

returns, the most recent card you installed

 

 

is at fault.

 

 

 

5

The processor on the system board

Try a known good processor in the processor

 

generated an error.

socket.

 

 

Same as for 4 beeps.

 

 

 

6

The keyboard controller (8042) may be

Remove the keyboard to see if the error goes

 

defective. The BIOS cannot switch to

away. If it does, try a known good keyboard.

 

Protected mode.

Same as for 4 beeps.

 

 

 

 

 

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