How to recognize the status of the computer through the sound

In computers, there is a small speaker installed, when the machine is started, this speaker will emit error codes in the form of sound to indicate the operating status of the computer. Depending on the basic input and output interface (BIOS) processor, the error codes will have different sounds and meanings.

BIOS information is displayed as soon as the computer is turned on, it is located in the upper left corner of the screen. Currently the most common are AMI BIOS and AWARD BIOS. Here are some common audio error codes:

Audio Code of AMI BIOS

AMI BIOS boot screen

1. 1 beep, 2 beep, 3 beep: Memory (RAM) error.
2. 4 beeps: System clock (Timer) error.
3. 5 beeps: Processor (CPU) error.
4. 6 beeps, 7 beeps: Mainboard error.
5. 8 beeps: Memory error of graphics device (VGA card).
6. 9 beeps, 10 beeps: Basic I/O processor (BIOS) error.
7. 11 beeps: Cache error.

Beep is a short sound emitted from the speaker, when the boot process is successful, a short beep will sound.

AWARD BIOS sound code

AWARD BIOS boot screen

1. 1 short: The system boots normally.
2. 2 short: Error due to wrong parameter setting in control system (CMOS) part.
3. 1 long and 1 short: Memory (DRAM) or mainboard (Mainboard) error.
4. 1 long and 2 short: Error of graphics device (VGA card) or monitor (Monitor).
5. 1 long and 3 short: Keyboard error (Keyboard).
6. 1 long and 9 short: Basic I/O processor (BIOS) error.
7. Long consecutive sounds: Memory (DRAM) error.
8. Short consecutive sound: Power supply error (Power).

Short is a short beep, long is a long beep.

The above are just some ways to identify the status of the machine to help get the initial solution, to accurately determine the damage of the computer, it is necessary to have specialized inspection equipment. In some cases, the devices are not damaged but may be because the pins are dirty or loose, just clean and re-plug it.

Samuel Daniel

Update 08 May 2023