Your computer usually handles many different types of tasks on it. This is possible due to the many different layers of codes, which makes up Windows 10. In such a complex operating system running on powerful machines, there is a high possibility that something might go wrong.
While we try to cover as many different errors with Windows 10 on our site, most of these include collecting information by performing some simple tasks and then solving them. However, with computers becoming smarter, you do not have to look farther for guessing what is wrong with your system.
Computer Indications
Your computer can tell you what is wrong with it in many different ways. These include computer beep codes, LEDs blinking, display flashing, etc.
When you start your computer, thee boot process begins the POST or Power On Self Test. Using the POST process, your motherboard checks all the connected components and hardware.
Here, let’s take a look at the computer beep codes. When you start your computer, you will listen to a beep from your motherboard. When some components fail on your system, the respective alarm code is transmitted in the form of computer beep codes.
Computer Beep Codes
There are numerous beep code patterns, each corresponding to a different component failure. Here are some of the important computer beep codes, which you can use to correspond to your error.
| Computer beep code | What does it mean | Corresponding error and suggested action |
| 1 Beep | Refresh Failure | Reseat/replace memory, troubleshoot motherboard |
| 2 Beeps | Parity Error | Reseat/replace memory, troubleshoot motherboard |
| 3 Beeps | Memory Error (Base 64KB) | Reseat/replace memory. |
| 4 Beeps | Timer Failure | Troubleshoot motherboard |
| 5 Beeps | Processor Failure | Troubleshoot CPU, motherboard |
| 6 Beeps | Keyboard Controller Failure
|
Troubleshoot keyboard, motherboard |
| 7 Beeps | Virtual Mode Exception Error
|
Troubleshoot CPU, motherboard |
| 8 Beeps | Display Memory Failure
|
Troubleshoot graphics card, motherboard |
| 9 Beeps | ROM BIOS Checksum Failure | Replace ROM BIOS, troubleshoot motherboard |
| 10 Beeps | CMOS Shutdown Register Failure
Troubleshoot motherboard |
Troubleshoot motherboard |
| 11 Beeps | L2 Cache Failure
|
Troubleshoot L2 cache, motherboard |
| Continuous Beeps (a combination of long and short beeps) | Memory or Video Failure
|
Troubleshoot memory, graphics card, motherboard |
| Two-tone siren | Low CPU fan speed | Check input voltage |
Dell Beep Codes
Dell BIOS systems have some additional computer beep codes, which can be used to detect what kind of failure your computer is facing. In the case of XPS devices, you will see LED blinking instead of audio beeps. Here are some Dell beep codes:
| Computer beep code | What does it mean | Corresponding error and suggested action |
| 1 Beep | Motherboard: BIOS corruption or ROM Failure | Run the Dell Diagnostics |
| 2 Beeps | No Memory (RAM) detected | Troubleshoot the Memory |
| 3 Beeps | ·Chipset Error (North and South bridge error
·Time-Of-Day Clock test failure ·Gate A20 failure ·Super I/O chip failure ·Keyboard controller failure |
Run the Dell Diagnostics |
| 4 Beeps | Memory (RAM) Failure | Troubleshoot the Memory |
| 5 Beeps | CMOS battery failure | Try reseating the CMOS Battery and run the Dell Diagnostics if that does not resolve the issue |
| 6 Beeps | Video card/chip failure | Run the Dell Diagnostics |
| 7 Beeps | Central Processing Unit (CPU) Failure | Run the Dell Diagnostics |
| 8 Beeps | LCD Failure | Contact Technical Support |
Lenovo Beep Codes
Lenovo BIOS systems also have a unique set of beep codes, which can be used to determine the crashed service part. Here are some Lenovo beep codes
| Computer beep code | What does it mean | Corresponding error and suggested action |
| One beep and a blank, unreadable, or flashing LCD | Display error | Reseat the LCD connector, LCD assembly, External CRT, System board |
| One long and two short beeps, and a blank or unreadable LCD | LCD or memory error | Reseat/replace memory, troubleshoot motherboard, LCD assembly, DIMM |
| Two short beeps with error codes | POST error | See Numeric error codes for more help |
| Two short beeps and a blank screen | System board error | Troubleshoot System board, DIMM |
| Three short beeps, pause, three more short beeps, and one short beep | Memory failure | Troubleshoot DIMM, System board |
| One short beep, pause, three short beeps, pause, three more short beeps, and one short beep | Memory failure | Troubleshoot DIMM, System board |
| Only a cursor appears | OS corrupted | Reinstall the operating system |
| Four cycles of four short beeps and a blank screen | System board (Security chip) | Troubleshoot System board |
| Five short beeps and a blank screen | System board | Troubleshoot System board |
IBM Desktop Beep Codes
| Computer beep code | What does it mean | Corresponding error and suggested action |
| No beep | No power | Troubleshoot loose expansion card (ISA, PCI, or AGP), a short, or an improperly grounded motherboard |
| 1 Short Beep | NA | System okay |
| 1 Long beep | Video problem | Reseat video card, replace the defective video card
|
| 2 Short beeps | POST error | See Numeric error codes for more help |
| 3 Long beeps | Keyboard card error | Problem with 3270 keyboard card |
| 1 Long 1 Short | System board error | Troubleshoot System board, DIMM |
| 1 Long 2 Short | Display adapter error | Reseat the LCD connector, LCD assembly, External CRT, System board |
| 1 Long 3 Short | EGA display circuitry error | Reseat the LCD connector, LCD assembly, External CRT, System board |
| Repeating Short beeps | Problem with the power supply or system board | Check input voltage and PSU |
| Continuous beeps | Problem with the power supply or system board | Check input voltage and PSU |
Lenovo Thinkpad Beep Codes
| Computer beep code | What does it mean | Corresponding error and suggested action |
| Continuous beeping | System board failure | Troubleshoot System board, DIMM |
| 1 beep with a blank display | LCD connector problem, LCD backlight inverter failure, video adapter failure, or LCD assembly failure | Reseat the LCD connector, LCD assembly, External CRT, System board |
| 1 beep w/message “Unable to access boot source | Boot device failure or bad system board | Troubleshoot System board, DIMM |
| 1 long, 2 short | System board, video adapter, or LCD assembly failure | Reseat video card, replace the defective video card, Troubleshoot System board
|
| 1 long, 4 short | Low battery voltage | Check input voltage and PSU |
| 1 beep every second | Low battery voltage | Check input voltage and PSU |
| 2 short w/message | Read the error message on the display | |
| 2 short with a blank display | System board failure | Contact Technical Support |
Asus Beep Codes
| Computer beep code | What does it mean | Corresponding error and suggested action |
| One short beep | VGA detected / No keyboard detected | Reseat video card, replace the defective video card, Troubleshoot System board
|
| Two short beeps | When using Crashfree to recover BIOS, the new BIOS is successfully recognized. | |
| One continuous beep followed by two short beeps then a pause (repeated) | No memory | Reseat/replace memory, troubleshoot motherboard |
| One continuous beep followed by three short beeps | No VGA detected | Reseat the LCD connector, LCD assembly, External CRT, System board |
| One continuous beep followed by four short beeps | Failure of Hardware component | Contact Technical Support |
HP Beep Codes
HP beep codes are a little different from the others, as there are two different types of beeps. The Major beeps correspond to the category of the error, while the Minor beep is specific to the problem with the category. Therefore, the beeps will be a combination of long and short blinks, followed by long and short beeps.
| Number of long beeps/blinks | Error category |
| 1 | Not used; Single beep/blinks are not used |
| 2 | BIOS |
| 3 | Hardware |
| 4 | Thermal |
| 5 | System board |
Patterns of blink/beep codes are determined by using the following parameters:
- The 1-second pause occurs after the last major blink.
- The 2-second pause occurs after the last minor blink.
- Beep error code sequences occur for the first 5 iterations of the pattern and then stop.
- Blink error code sequences continue until the computer is unplugged or the power button is pressed.
Wrapping Up
So there you have it. Now you know what different computer beep codes are and how you can use them to identify what is wrong with your system. Tell us in the comments below if you found this useful, and what error you were facing on your device.
