Below are the Phoenix Beep codes that can occur. However, because of the wide variety of different computer manufacturers with this BIOS, the beep codes may vary.

The beep codes are represented in the number of beeps. E.g. 1-1-2 would mean 1 beep, a pause, 1 beep, a pause, and 2 beeps.

BeepsError MessageDescription
1-1-2CPU test failureThe CPU is faulty.  Replace the CPU
Low 1-1-2System board select failureThe motherboard is having an undetermined fault.  Replace the motherboard
1-1-3CMOS read/write errorThe real time clock/CMOS is faulty.   Replace the CMOS if possible
Low 1-1-3Extended CMOS RAM failureThe extended portion of the CMOS RAM has failed.  Replace the CMOS if possible
1-1-4BIOS ROM checksum errorThe BIOS ROM has failed.  Replace the BIOS or upgrade if possible
1-2-1PIT failureThe programmable interrupt timer has failed.  Replace if possible
1-2-2DMA failureThe DMA controller has failed.   Replace the IC if possible
1-2-3DMA read/write failureThe DMA controller has failed.   Replace the IC if possible
1-3-1RAM refresh failureThe RAM refresh controller has failed
1-3-264KB RAM failureThe test of the first 64KB RAM has failed to start
1-3-3First 64KB RAM failureThe first RAM IC has failed.   Replace the IC if possible
1-3-4First 64KB logic failureThe first RAM control logic has failed
1-4-1Address line failureThe address line to the first 64KB RAM has failed
1-4-2Parity RAM failureThe first RAM IC has failed.   Replace if possible
1-4-3EISA fail-safe timer testReplace the motherboard
1-4-4EISA NMI port 462 testReplace the motherboard
2-1-164KB RAM failureBit 0; This data bit on the first RAM IC has failed.  Replace the IC if possible
2-1-264KB RAM failureBit 1; This data bit on the first RAM IC has failed.  Replace the IC if possible
2-1-364KB RAM failureBit 2; This data bit on the first RAM IC has failed.  Replace the IC if possible
2-1-464KB RAM failureBit 3; This data bit on the first RAM IC has failed.  Replace the IC if possible
2-2-164KB RAM failureBit 4; This data bit on the first RAM IC has failed.  Replace the IC if possible
2-2-264KB RAM failureBit 5; This data bit on the first RAM IC has failed.  Replace the IC if possible
2-2-364KB RAM failureBit 6; This data bit on the first RAM IC has failed.  Replace the IC if possible
2-2-464KB RAM failureBit 7; This data bit on the first RAM IC has failed.  Replace the IC if possible
2-3-164KB RAM failureBit 8; This data bit on the first RAM IC has failed.  Replace the IC if possible
2-3-264KB RAM failureBit 9; This data bit on the first RAM IC has failed.  Replace the IC if possible
2-3-364KB RAM failureBit 10; This data bit on the first RAM IC has failed.  Replace the IC if possible
2-3-464KB RAM failureBit 11; This data bit on the first RAM IC has failed.  Replace the IC if possible
2-4-164KB RAM failureBit 12; This data bit on the first RAM IC has failed.  Replace the IC if possible
2-4-264KB RAM failureBit 13; This data bit on the first RAM IC has failed.  Replace the IC if possible
2-4-364KB RAM failureBit 14; This data bit on the first RAM IC has failed.  Replace the IC if possible
2-4-464KB RAM failureBit 15; This data bit on the first RAM IC has failed.  Replace the IC if possible
3-1-1Slave DMA register failureThe DMA controller has failed.   Replace the controller if possible
3-1-2Master DMA register failureThe DMA controller had failed.   Replace the controller if possible
3-1-3Master interrupt mask register failureThe interrupt controller IC has failed
3-1-4Slave interrupt mask register failureThe interrupt controller IC has failed
3-2-2Interrupt vector errorThe BIOS was unable to load the interrupt vectors into memory.  Replace the motherboard
3-2-3Reserved
3-2-4Keyboard controller failureThe keyboard controller has failed.   Replace the IC if possible
3-3-1CMOS RAM power badReplace the CMOS battery or CMOS RAM if possible
3-3-2CMOS configuration errorThe CMOS configuration has failed.   Restore the configuration or replace the battery if possible
3-3-3Reserved
3-3-4Video memory failureThere is a problem with the video memory.  Replace the video adapter if possible
3-4-1Video initialization failureThere is a problem with the video adapter.  Reseat the adapter or replace the adapter if possible
4-2-1Timer failureThe system’s timer IC has failed.   Replace the IC if possible
4-2-2Shutdown failureThe CMOS has failed.  Replace the CMOS IC if possible
4-2-3Gate A20 failureThe keyboard controller has failed.   Replace the IC if possible
4-2-4Unexpected interrupt in protected modeThis is a CPU problem.  Replace the CPU and retest
4-3-1RAM test failureSystem RAM addressing circuitry is faulty.  Replace the motherboard
4-3-3Interval timer channel 2 failureThe system timer IC has failed.   Replace the IC if possible
4-3-4Time of day clock failureThe real time clock/CMOS has failed.   Replace the CMOS if possible
4-4-1Serial port failureA error has occurred in the serial port circuitry
4-4-2Parallel port failureA error has occurred in the parallel port circuitry
4-4-3Math coprocessor failureThe math coprocessor has failed.   If possible, replace the MPU

 

BeepsDescription
1-1-1-3Verify real mode
1-1-2-1Get CPU type
1-1-2-3Initialize system hardware
1-1-3-1Initialize chipset registers with initial values
1-1-3-2Set in POST flag
1-1-3-3Initialize CPU registers
1-1-4-1Initialize cache to initial values
1-1-4-3Initialize I/O
1-2-1-1Initialize power management
1-2-1-2Load alternative registers with initial POST values
1-2-1-3Jump to UserPatch0
1-2-2-1Initialize timer initialization
1-2-3-18254 timer initialization
1-2-3-38237 DMA controller initialization
1-2-4-1Reset Programmable Interrupt Controller
1-3-1-1Test DRAM refresh
1-3-1-3Test 8742 Keyboard Controller
1-3-2-1Set ES segment register to 4GB
1-3-3-1Autosize DRAM
1-3-3-3Clear 512K base memory
1-3-4-1Test 512K base address lines
1-3-4-3Test 51K base memory
1-4-1-3Test CPU bus-clock frequency
1-4-2-1CMOS RAM read/write failure (this commonly indicates a problem on the ISA bus such as a card not seated)
1-4-2-4Reinitialize the chipset
1-4-3-1Shadow system BIOS ROM
1-4-3-2Reinitialize the cache
1-4-3-3Autosize the cache
1-4-4-1Configure advanced chipset registers
1-4-4-2Load alternate registers with CMOS values
2-1-1-1Set initial CPU speed
2-1-1-3Initialize interrupt vectors
2-1-2-1Initialize BIOS interrupts
2-1-2-3Check ROM copyright notice
2-1-2-4Initialize manager for PCI Options ROMs
2-1-3-1Check video configuration against CMOS
2-1-3-2Initialize PCI bus and devices
2-1-3-3initialize all video adapters in system
2-1-4-1Shadow video BIOS ROM
2-1-4-3Display copyright notice
2-2-1-1Display CPU type and speed
2-2-1-3Test keyboard
2-2-2-1Set key click if enabled
2-2-2-3Enable keyboard
2-2-3-1Test for unexpected interrupts
2-2-3-3Display prompt “Press F2 to enter setup”
2-2-4-1Test RAM between 512K and 640K
2-3-1-1Test expanded memory
2-3-1-3Test extended memory address lines
2-3-2-1Jump to UserPatch1
2-3-2-3Enable external and CPU caches
2-3-2-3Configure advanced cache registers
2-3-3-1Enable external and CPU caches
2-3-3-2Initialize SMI handler
2-3-3-3Display external cache size
2-3-4-1Display shadow message
2-3-4-3Display non-disposable segments
2-4-1-1Display error messages
2-4-1-3Check for configuration errors
2-4-2-1Test real-time clock
2-4-2-3Check for keyboard errors
2-4-4-1Setup hardware interrupt vectors
2-4-4-3Test coprocessor if present
3-1-1-1Disable onboard I/O ports
3-1-1-3Detect and install external RS232 ports
3-1-2-1Detect and install external parallel ports
3-1-2-3Reinitialize onboard I/O ports
3-1-3-1Initialize BIOS Data Area
3-1-3-3Initialize Extended BIOS Data Area
3-1-4-1Initialize floppy controller
3-2-1-1Initialize hard disk controller
3-2-1-2Initialize local bus hard disk controller
3-2-1-3Jump to UserPatch2
3-2-2-1Disable A20 address line
3-2-2-3Clear huge ES segment register
3-2-3-1Search for option ROMs
3-2-3-3Shadow option ROMs
3-2-4-1Setup power management
3-2-4-3Enable hardware interrupts
3-3-1-1Set time of day
3-3-1-3Check key lock
3-3-3-1Erase F2 prompt
3-3-3-3Scan for F2 keystroke
3-3-4-1Enter SETUP
3-3-4-3Clear in-POST flag
3-4-1-1Check for errors
3-4-1-3POST done – prepare to boot operating system
3-4-2-1One beep
3-4-2-3Check password (optional)
3-4-3-1Clear global descriptor table
3-4-4-1Clear parity checkers
3-4-4-3Check virus and backup reminders
4-1-1-1Try to boot with INT 19
4-2-1-1Interrupt handler error
4-2-1-3Unknown interrupt error
4-2-2-1Pending interrupt error
4-2-2-3Initialize option ROM error
4-2-3-1Shutdown error
4-2-3-3Extended Block Move
4-2-4-1Shutdown 10 error
4-2-4-3Keyboard Controller failure (most likely problem is with RAM or cache unless no video is present)
4-3-1-3Initialize the chipset
4-3-1-4Initialize refresh counter
4-3-2-1Check for Forced Flash
4-3-2-2BIOS ROM is OK
4-3-2-4Do a complete RAM test
4-3-3-1Do OEM initialization
4-3-3-2Initialize interrupt controller
4-3-3-3Read in bootstrap code
4-3-3-4Initialize all vectors
4-3-4-2Initialize the boot device
4-3-4-3Boot code was read OK

 

February 22, 2014 Chris Hubbell Categories: