SysOpt.com - BIOS Error Beeps, Messages, and Codes

Tutorials and Tools

Number of Beeps

Description of Problem

Solution

1 long, 2 short

Video error

Reseat the video card - replacement may be necessary if it is faulty.

Error Message

Problem

Solution

CMOS BATTERY HAS FAILED

CMOS battery is no longer functional.

Replace battery.

CMOS CHECKSUM ERROR

Checksum of CMOS is incorrect. This can indicate that CMOS has become corrupt. This error may have been caused by a weak battery.

DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER

No boot device was found. This could mean that either a boot drive was not detected or the drive does not contain proper system boot files.

Insert a system disk into Drive A: and press Enter. If you assumed the system would boot from the hard drive make sure the controller is inserted correctly and all cables are properly attached. Also be sure the disk is formatted as a boot device. Then reboot the system.

DISKETTE DRIVES OR TYPES MISMATCH ERROR - RUN SETUP

Type of diskette drive installed in the system is different from the CMOS definition.

Run Setup and enter the drive type correctly.

DISPLAY SWITCH IS SET INCORRECTLY

Many motherboards have a jumper or switch that allows you to specify whether you have a monochrome or color video board.

Check the jumper or switch and correct it's position.

DISPLAY TYPE HAS CHANGED SINCE LAST BOOT

Since you last shut the system down, the display had been changed.

Run Setup and reconfigure display if possible.

EISA Configuration Checksum Error

The EISA non-volatile RAM checksum is incorrect or cannot correctly read the EISA slot.

Run the EISA Configuration Utility. Either the EISA non-volatile memory has become corrupt or the slot has been configured incorrectly. Also make sure the card is installed firmly in the slot. When this error appears, the system will boot in ISA mode, which allows you to run the EISA Configuration Utility.

EISA Configuration is Not Complete

The slot configuration information stored in the EISA non-volatile memory is incomplete. When this error appears, the system will boot in ISA mode, which allows you to run the EISA Configuration Utility.

Run the EISA Configuration Utility.

ERROR ENCOUNTERED INITIALIZING HARD DRIVE

The hard drive cannot be initialized.

Be sure the adaptor/controller is installed correctly and that all cables are correctly and firmly attached. Also make sure the correct hard drive type is selected in Setup.

ERROR INITIALIZING HARD DRIVE CONTROLLER

Cannot initiallize the controller card.

Make sure the card is correctly and firmly seated in the system board. Be sure the correct hard drive type is selected in Setup. Also check to see if any jumpers need to be set on the hard drive.

FLOPPY DISK CNTRLR ERROR OR NO CNTRLR PRESENT

Cannot find or initialize the floppy drive controller.

Make certain the controller is installed correctly and firmly. If there are no floppy drives installed, be sure the Diskette Drive selection in Setup is set to NONE.

Invalid EISA Configuration

The non-volatile memory containing EISA configuration information was programmed incorrectly or has become corrupt.

Re-run EISA Configuration Utility to correctly program the memory. When this error occurs, the system will boot in ISA mode which allows you to run the EISA Configuration Utility.

KEYBOARD ERROR OR NO KEYBOARD PRESENT

Cannot initialize the keyboard.

Make sure the keyboard is attached correctly and that no keys are stuck or are being pressed during the boot. If you are purposely configuring the system without the keyboard, set the error halt condition in Setup to HALT ON ALL, BUT KEYBOARD. This will cause the BIOS to ignore the missing keyboard and continue the boot.

Memory Address Error at XXXX

Indicates a memory address error at XXXX location.

Use the location along with the memory map for your system to find and replace the bad memory chips.

Memory parity Error at XXXX

Indicates a memory parity error at XXXX location.

Same as Above.

MEMORY SIZE HAS CHANGED SINCE LAST BOOT

Memory has been added or removed since the last boot.

In EISA mode, use the EISA Configuration Utility to reconfigure the memory configuration. In ISA mode, enter Setup and enter the new memory size in the memory fields if possible.

Memory Verify Error at XXXX

Indicates an error verifying a value already written to memory.

Use the location along with your system's memory map to locate the bad chip(s).

OFFENDING ADDRESS NOT FOUND

This message is used in conjunction with the I/O CHANNEL CHECK and RAM PARITY ERROR messages when the segment that has caused the problem cannot be isolated.

OFFENDING SEGMENT:

Same as above.

PRESS A KEY TO REBOOT

This message is displayed at the bottom of the screen when an error occurs that requires you to reboot.

Press any key to reboot the system.

PRESS F1 TO DISABLE NMI, F2 TO REBOOT

When BIOS detects a Non-maskable Interrupt condition during boot, this will allow you to disable the NMI and continue to boot, or you can reboot the system with the NMI enabled.

RAM PARITY ERROR - CHECKING FOR SEGMENT

Indicates a parity error in Random Access Memory.

Should Be Empty But EISA Board Found

A valid board ID was found in a slot that was configured as having no board ID.

Run the EISA Configuration Utility.

Should Have EISA Board But Not Found

The board installed is not responding to the ID request, or no board ID has been found in the indicated slot.

Run the EISA Configuration Utility.

Slot Not Empty

A slot designated as empty by the EISA Configuration Utility actually contains a board.

Run the EISA Configuration Utility.

SYSTEM HALTED, (CTRL-ALT-DEL) TO REBOOT ...