Service Guide


Beep codes and their meanings

A beep code is an audio signal consisting of a short tone or a series of short tones separated by pauses. For example, beep code 1-2-3 consists of:

Table 8 lists the beep codes, their meanings, and the possible cause.
Note:The most likely suspected part is listed first.

Table 8. Beep codes, meanings, and possible cause.
Beep code Meaning Possible cause
1-1-2 Processor register test failed
  1. Optional processor (if installed)
  2. Processor

1-1-3 CMOS write/read test failed
  1. Battery
  2. System board

1-1-4 BIOS ROM checksum failed System Board
1-2-1 Programmable Interval Timer failed
  1. System Board
  2. Processor Board

1-2-2 DMA initialization failed
  1. System Board
  2. Processor Board

1-2-3 DMA page register write/read failed
  1. System Board
  2. Processor Board

1-2-4 RAM refresh verification failed
  1. DIMM
  2. Processor/PCI board
  3. System Board

1-3-1 First 64K RAM test failed
  1. DIMM
  2. Processor/PCI Board
  3. System Board

1-3-2 First 64K RAM parity test failed
  1. DIMM
  2. Processor
  3. System Board

2-1-1 Secondary DMA register failed
  1. System Board
  2. Processor Board

2-1-2 Primary DMA register failed
  1. System Board
  2. Processor Board

2-1-3 Primary interrupt mask register failed
  1. System Board
  2. Processor Board

2-1-4 Secondary interrupt mask register failed
  1. System Board
  2. Processor Board

2-2-2 Keyboard controller failed System Board
2-2-3 CMOS power failure and checksum checks failed
  1. Battery
  2. System Board

2-2-4 CMOS configuration into validation failed
  1. Battery
  2. System Board

2-3-1 Screen initialization failed
  1. Jumper on J14
  2. System Board

2-3-2 Screen memory failed System Board
2-3-3 Screen retrace failed System Board
2-3-4 Search for video ROM failed System Board
2-4-1 Search for video ROM failed System Board
3-1-1 Timer tick interrupt failed System Board
3-1-2 Interval timer channel 2 failed System Board
3-1-3 RAM test failed above address OFFFFH
  1. DIMM
  2. Processor Board
  3. System Board

3-1-4 Time-of-day clock failed.
  1. Battery
  2. System Board

3-2-1 Serial port failed System Board
3-2-2 Parallel port failed System Board
3-2-4 Failure comparing CMOS memory size against actual
  1. DIMM
  2. Processor Board
  3. Battery

3-3-1 Memory size mismatch occurred
  1. DIMM
  2. Processor Board
  3. Battery

3-3-2 Critical SMBUS error occurred Disconnect the appliance cord from the outlet, wait 30 seconds, and retry. If the symptom persists, suspect the following parts:
  1. System Board
  2. Processor/PCI Board
  3. DIMMs
  4. DASD Backplane
  5. Power Supply
  6. Power Supply Backplane
  7. 12C Cable
3-3-3 No operational memory in system
  1. DIMMs
  2. Processor/PCI Board
  3. System Board

Two short beeps Information only, the configuration has changed
  1. Run Diagnostics
  2. Run Configuration/Setup

Three short beeps
  1. DIMM
  2. Processor/PCI Board
  3. System Board

One continuous beep
  1. Processor
  2. Optional Processor (if installed)
  3. Processor/PCI Board
  4. System Board

Repeating short beeps
  1. Keyboard
  2. Repeating Board

One long and one short beep
  1. Video adapter (if installed)
  2. System Board

One long and two short beeps
  1. Video adapter (if installed)
  2. System Board

One long and three short beeps Monitor not present None
Note:This is normal.
Two long and two short beeps
Video adapter


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