[alandemartino]

How to Interpret Computer Error Beep Codes

When the computer makes those funny sound via the system speaker, it's not doing it because it wants to be heard. The computer is trying to talk to the operator/technician and tell them what's wrong.

Beep Codes:

No Beeps: Short, No power, Bad CPU/MB, Loose Peripherals

One Beep: Everything is normal and Computer POSTed fine

Two Beeps: POST/CMOS Error

One Long Beep, One Short Beep: Motherboard Problem

One Long Beep, Two Short Beeps: Video Problem

One Long Beep, Three Short Beeps: Video Problem

Three Long Beeps: Keyboard Error

Repeated Long Beeps: Memory Error

Continuous Hi-Lo Beeps: CPU Overheating

[Zylaw]

Thanks for this tutorial - I hadn't noticed the beeping previously, but recently I've been getting a beep during start-up and was starting to freak-out that something ELSE was wrong with my old clunker Inspiron 8500. Now I can relax, I guess. Thanks again (btw, what means "POSTed," please?) Yours, Zylaw

[PedroDaGR8]

POST means Power On Self Test, so POSTed means it passed this test. This is a good general list but sometimes they can be motherboard or more commonly bios manufacturer specific so you may want to check your owners manual.

[Libid21]

What about the beep that my computer makes when a virus has been detected by AntiVir?

[Rorschach112]

There would be no way to interpret that

If you got malware you would have to go to the malware removal forum

[Libid21]

Rorschach112, on Jan 5 2009, 07:10 PM, said:

There would be no way to interpret that

If you got malware you would have to go to the malware removal forum

I'm not saying I have one now per se. I was just asking if it was a specific beep.

[Troy]

Are you sure the beep was coming through the system speaker? (i.e. not your normal audio output speakers)

EDIT: Either way, it's not related.

[QuizMaster]

Troy, on Jan 5 2009, 10:02 PM, said:

Are you sure the beep was coming through the system speaker? (i.e. not your normal audio output speakers)

EDIT: Either way, it's not related.

I also use AntiVir and I'm sure that it's coming from the system speaker because I can still hear it if I have no sound card installed.

[PedroDaGR8]

System alerts will come across as a single beep (sometimes a beep that rises in pitch) over the PC Speaker if no sound card is detected. Virus detection will use a system alert to alert you because of this. It will only be one beep and it is constant across ALL system alerts. So there is no way to interpret it.

[QuizMaster]

PedroDaGR8, on Jan 6 2009, 09:19 PM, said:

System alerts will come across as a single beep (sometimes a beep that rises in pitch) over the PC Speaker if no sound card is detected. Virus detection will use a system alert to alert you because of this. It will only be one beep and it is constant across ALL system alerts. So there is no way to interpret it.

I already have a sound card installed and the alert is still coming from the system speaker. It isn't just a single beep, it's a series of beeps that gets higher each time.

[QuizMaster]

The Avira beep is like the StickyKeys beep, even if I had the speakers off, I'll still hear the beep (more like a tune).

[sari]

It's still not a system beep, and can't be interpreted as such. It's a program alert.

[KBUWerks1]

Very good tutorial indeed.

I truly didn't realize the different variety of beeps and there meaning.

KBUQuest

[AlexBlack]

I must say, I was aware that one beep was good, but never realized that there was so many combinations to what is wrong with the system. Really makes it easy to troubleshoot hardware

[andrew wyatt]

Hello,
I am trying to find Beep codes for Windows XP - I am taking comptia A-Plus Exam, and although book advises me to read motherboard manual, The practice tests keep coming up with them, same with Error codes.Internet is not a big help either ( except this forum)

Thanks,
Andy.