The complete BIOS beep guide

Microid Research motherboards (old)

Microaid Research BIOS Post Codes 1.0A:
01 Chipset problem
02 Disable NMI and DMA
03 Check BIOS ROM checksum
04 Test DMA page register
05 Keyboard controller test
06 Initialize the RTC, 8237, 8254, and 8259
07 Check memory refresh
08 DMA master test
09 OEM specific test
0A Test memory bank 0
0B Test PIC units
0C Test PIC conditions
0D Initialize PIT channel 0
0E Initialize PIT channel 2
0F Test CMOS RAM battery
10 Check video ROM
11 Test RTC
12 Test keyboard controller
13 OEM specific test
14 Run memory test
15 Keyboard controller
16 OEM specific test
17 Test keyboard controller
18 Run memory test
19 Execute OEM memory test
1A Update RTC contents
1B Initialize serial ports
1C Initialize parallel ports
1D Test math coprocessor
1E Test floppy disk
1F Test hard disk
20 Validate CMOS contents
21 Check keyboard lock
22 Set NUM lock on keyboard
23 OEM specific test
29 Test adapter ROM's
2F Call interrupt 19 boot loader

Microid Research (new type)

03 ROM BIOS checksum failure
04 DMA page register failure
05 Keyboard controller selftest failure
08 Memory refresh circuitry failure
09 Master 16-bit DMA controller failure
09 Slave 8-bit DMA controller failure
0A Base 64K pattern test failure
0A Base 64K parity circuitry failure
0A Base 64K parity error
0A Base 64K data bus failure
0A Base 64K address bus failure
0A Base 64K block access read failure
0A Base 64K block access write failure
0B Master 8259 failure
0B Slave 8259 failure
0C Master 8259 interrupt address failure
0C Slave 8259 interrupt address failure
0C 8259 interrupt address error
0C Master 8259 stuck interrupt error
0C Slave 8259 stuck interrupt error
0C System timer 8254 channel 0/IRQ 0 failure
0D 8254 channel 0, speaker detect, failure
0E 8254 channel 2 speaker failure
0E 8254 OUT2, speaker detect, failure
0F CMOS RAM read/write test failure
0F CMOS read/write test failure
0F RTC periodic interrupt / IRQ 8 failure
10 Video ROM checksum failure
11 RTC battery discharged or CMOS contents corrupt
12 Keyboard controller failure
12 Keyboard error, stuck key
14 Memory parity error
14 I/O channel error
14 RAM pattern test failed
15 Keyboard failure or no keyboard present
17 A20 test failure caused by 8042 timeout
17 A20 gate stuck in disabled state
17 A20 gate stuck in asserted state
18 Parity circuit failure
19 Data bus test failure, address line test failed, block access read failure, block access read/write failure, or banks decode to same location
1A Real time clock is not updating
1A Real time clock settings are invalid
1E Diskette CMOS configuration invalid, diskette controller failure, or diskette drive A: failure or diskette drive B: failure
1F FDD CMOS configuration invalid, fixed disk C: failure, or fixed disk D: failure
20 Fixed disk configuration change, diskette configuration change, serial port configuration change, parallel port configuration change, video configuration change, memory configuration change, or coprocessor configuration change
21 System key is in locked position
29 Adapter ROM checksum failure

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Mr. BIOS Post Codes Version 3.4x:
00 Cold start
01 Initialize KBD controller, Disable CPU cache, Initialize onboard I/O chipset, Test RAM size
02 Disable critical I/O
03 Checksum the BIOS ROM
04 Test page register
05 Enable A20 gate, issue 8042 keyboard controller self test
06 Initialize ISA I/O
07 Warm initialize KBD controller & I/O chipset
08 Refresh toggle test
09 Test DMA master & slave registers
0A Test first 64KB of base memory
0B Test master 8259 mask, test slave 8259 mask
0C Test 8259 slave, initialize interrupt vectors 00-77h, initialize keyboard buffer variables
0D Test timer 0, 8254 channel 0
0E Test 8254 channel 2, speaker channel
10 Turn on monitor, show error messages
11 Read and checksum the CMOS
12 Call video ROM initialization routines
13 Set 8Mhz AT-bus
14 Size and test memory, stuck NMI check
15 No keyboard and power on, retry keyboard initialization
16 Size and test CPU cache
17 Test A20 off and on gates
18 External memory size, stuck NMI check
19 System memory size, stuck NMI check
1A Test RTC time
1B Determine serial ports
1C Determine parallel ports
1D Initialize numeric coprocessor
1E Determine floppy diskette drive controllers
1F Determine IDE controllers
20 Display CMOS configuration changes
21 Clear screens
22 Set/reset numlock LED, security functions
23 Final onboard serial and parallel ports check
24 Set keyboard typematic rate
25 Initialize floppy controller
26 Initialize ATA discs
27 Set video mode for primary adapter`
28 Cyrix WB-CPU support, purge 8259 slave
29 Reset A20 to OFF, Install adapter ROM's
2A Clear primary screen, convert RTC to system ticks, set final DOS timer variable
2B Enable NMI and latch
2E Fast A20, fix A20
2F Purge 8259 slave, control to interrupt 19 boot
32 Test CPU burst
34 Determine 8042, set warm boot flag STS 2
35 Test high memory area wrap, verify A20 via F000:10 high memory area
37 CPU step NZ, CPUID, disable CPU features
38 Set 8042 pins
39 PCI bus
3A Scan PCI bus
3B Initialize PCI bus with intermediate defaults
3C Initialize PCI OEM: OEM bridge
3D PCI bus and Plug & Play: initialize AT slotman from AT bus CDE usage
3E Find phantom CDE ROM PCI cards
3F PCI bus: final fast back-to-back state
40 OEM post initialization, hook audio
41 Allocate I/O on PCI bus, logs in PCI-IDE
42 Hook PCI-ATA chips
43 Allocate IRQ's to PCI bus, enable ATA IRQ's
44 Allocate and enable PCI memory/ROM space
45 Determine PS/2 mouse
46 Map IRQ's to PCI bus, enable ATA IRQ's
47 PCI-ROM install, note user CMOS
48 If setup conditions: execute setup utility
49 Test F000, transfer EPROM to shadow RAM
4A Hook VLATA chip
4B Identify and spin up all drives
4C Detect secondary IRQ, if VL/AT bus IDE exists but it's IRQ not known yet
4D Detect /log 32-bit I/O ATA devices
4E Atapi drive M/S bitmap to shadow RAM, set interrupt 13 vector
4F Finalize shadow RAM
50 Chain interrupt 13
51 Load Plug & Play, processor vector initialized, BIOS vector initialized, OEM vector initialized
52 Scan for Plug & Play, update Plug & Play device count
53 Supplement IRQ usage, AT IRQ's
54 Conditionally assign everything Plug & Play wants
58 OEM custom boot sequence just prior to interrupt 19 boot
59 Pass control to interrupt 19 boot
5A Display MR BIOS logo
88 Dead motherboard and/or BIOS ROM
FF BIOS POST finished

new additions added (The complete BIOS Beep Guide)

I've added quite a few additions to include some legacy systems as well as DELL, HP, and others. Enjoy!

EUROSOFT motherboards: (also see Mylex)

Eurosoft 4.71 BIOS Post Codes:
03 DMA page registers tested
04 DMA page registers failed
05 Keyboard tested
06 Keyboard test failed
07 Keyboard self-test passed
08 Keyboard self-test failed
09 8042 keyboard controller checking links
0A 8042 keyboard controller unable to read links
0B RATMOD/DIAG link
0C Keyboard port 60h tested
0D Keyboard failed port 60h test
0E Keyboard parameter tested
0F Keyboard parameter test failed
10 Keyboard command byte read
11 Keyboard command byte failed read
12 Keyboard command byte read OK
13 Keyboard command byte corrupt
14 RAM-refresh toggle switch
15 RAM-refresh clock not correct
16 RAM bit test passed
17 RAM bit test failed
18 RAM parity tested
19 RAM parity error
1A CMOS RAM tested
1B CMOS RAM test failed
1C CMOS battery OK
1D CMOS battery failed
1E CMOS checksum passed
1F CMOS checksum failed
20 CMOS battery fault bit set
21 Master DMA controller 1 tested
21 Slave DMA controller 2 tested
22 Master DMA controller 1 failed
23 Slave DMA controller 2 failed
24 Protected mode entered successfully
25 RAM test completed
26 BIOS RAM checksum tested
27 BIOS RAM checksum test failed
28 Protected mode exit successful
29 Keyboard power-up reply received
2A Keyboard power-up reply missing
2B Keyboard disable command tested
2C Keyboard disable command failed
2D Checking for video system
2E POST errors have been reported
2F About to halt
30 Protected mode entered safely
31 RAM test complete
32 Master interrupt controller (PIC 1) tested
33 Master interrupt controller (PIC 1) failed
34 Slave interrupt controller (PIC 2) tested
35 Slave interrupt controller (PIC 2) failed
36 Chipset initialization
37 Chipset initialization failed
38 BIOS shadowing tested
39 BIOS shadowing failed
3A Video BIOS shadowing tested
3B Video BIOS shadowing failed

nice work thanks for the input

Read and follow carefully the instructions that come with the BIOS download... I don't know of any that are not accompanied by instructions.

Brilliant post here Tedster. Very helpful.

Phoenix BIOS codes update:

For EKF CD2-BEBOP


Error Code | Beeps/Flashes | Description
-----------+---------------+------------------------------------------------------------------
00h | 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 | SDRAM address line error (occurs only on BIOS Builds < #104)
16h | 1 - 2 - 2 - 3 | Phoenix BIOS checksum failed
20h | 1 - 3 - 1 - 1 | DRAM refresh failed
22h | 1 - 3 - 1 - 3 | Test of 8742 keyboard controller failed
28h | 1 - 3 - 3 - 1 | Memory error. Unused now. Replaced by more detailed codes E1h-EFh
29h | 1 - 3 - 3 - 2 | Initialization of POST Memory Manager failed
2Ch | 1 - 3 - 4 - 1 | SDRAM address line error
34h | 1 - 4 - 2 - 1 | CMOS test failed
3Ah | 1 - 4 - 3 - 3 | Autosizing of cache failed
44h | 2 - 1 - 2 - 1 | Verification of BIOS Copyright message failed
58h | 2 - 2 - 3 - 1 | Unexpected interrupt occurred
90h | 3 - 2 - 1 - 1 | Multiboot allocation error
C0h | 4 - 1 - 1 - 1 | Boot failed (INT 19h), A20 gate not disabled
DFh | 4 - 2 - 4 - 4 | Keyboard controller error, A20 gate not enabled
E0h | 4 - 3 - 1 - 1 | No SDRAM module installed or SDRAM module not detected!
E1h | 4 - 3 - 1 - 2 | Bad SDRAM module type installed
E2h | 4 - 3 - 1 - 3 | Buffered SDRAM module installed
E3h | 4 - 3 - 1 - 4 | Reserved
E4h - E7h | 4 - 3 - 2 - X | Unsupported parameter read from SDRAM EEPROM
E8h - EBh | 4 - 3 - 3 - X | Unsupported parameter read from SDRAM EEPROM
ECh - EFh | 4 - 3 - 4 - X | Unsupported parameter read from SDRAM EEPROM