BIOS Troubleshooting
Now we come to the BIOS troubleshooting. You have passed all the 'obstacles'
and tests in building a computer.
Now, you have had all the components
properly installed, let's turn own the power.
If your system is ok,
you'll hear a beep sound, if you hear beep sound more than once, that mean's you
didn't install the components properly or some of the components might be
faulty.
You should have properly installed your motherboard as well as
other computer parts.
Press [DEL] during the POST (Power On Self Test),
and you'll enter the world of BIOS (Basic Input Output System).
As illustrated
above (sorry, it's a bit blur), you should select the [LOAD
OPTIMIZED DEFAULTS] for top performance.
If you aren't sure of the
rest of the functions, just leave them alone, they should be ok with the
Optimized Defaults.
Just select [SAVE & EXIT
SETUP], press [Y] to save.
Viola, you
have got the system up!!!
Wow, great job.
Troubleshooting
Well, sometimes we might not get all the things done in our life, same
applied to computer hardware-building.
When you power on your system, you
might hear a single long beep, and this means OK, don't worry. But, if you hear
any sound more than a single beep, then you are in deep water.
No
worries, just refer to the below BIOS error tips.
BIOS Audio Beep Errors
|
Number of Beeps |
Description of
Problem |
Solution |
|
1
beep |
DRAM refresh
failure |
Try re-seating the memory
first. If the error still occurs, replace the memory with known good
chips. |
|
2
beeps |
Parity Circuit
Failure |
|
|
3
beeps |
Base 64K RAM
failure |
|
|
4
beeps |
System Timer
Failure |
Send System Board in for
Repair |
|
5
beeps |
Processor
Failure |
|
|
6
beeps |
Keyboard Controller /
Gate A20 Failure |
Try re-seating the
keyboard controller chip. If the error still occurs, replace the keyboard
chip. If the error persists, check parts of the system relating to the
keyboard, e.g. try another keyboard, check to see if the system has a
keyboard fuse. |
|
7
beeps |
Virtual Mode Exception
Error |
Send System Board in for
Repair |
|
8
beeps |
Display Memory Read/Write
Failure |
Indicates a memory error
on the video adapter. Try re-seating the video card. If it still beeps,
try replacing the video card or the memory on the video
card. If it is built-in VGA,
then please send System Board in for repair. |
|
9
beeps |
ROM BIOS Checksum
Failure |
Indicates faulty BIOS
chip(s). It is not likely that this error can be corrected by re-seating
the chips. Consult the motherboard supplier or an BIOS product distributor
for replacement part(s). |
|
10 beeps |
CMOS Shutdown Register
Read/Write Error |
Send System Board in for
Repair |
|
1
long 2 short |
Video
failure |
Reseat the video board -
replace if board is determined to be faulty. |
|
1
long 3 short |
Video
failure |
|
|
1
long |
POST passed.
|
No
Errors |
BIOS Error Messages/Codes
|
Error
Message |
Problem |
Solution |
|
CH-2 Timer
Error |
Non fatal. Could be
caused by a peripheral. |
|
|
INTR #1
Error |
Interrupt Channel 1 has
failed the POST test |
Check system boards for
IRQs 0-7. |
|
INTR #2
Error |
Interrupt Channel 2 has
failed the POST test |
Check system boards for
IRQs 8-15. |
|
CMOS Battery State
Low |
|
Replace battery.
|
|
CMOS Checksum
Failure |
A checksum is generated
when CMOS values are saved for error checking on subsequent startups. This
error message will appear if the checksum is different from one boot-up to
the next. |
Run the setup program
again to correct the problem. |
|
CMOS Memory Size
Mismatch |
Usually caused when you
add or remove memory from your system but could be caused by memory that
has failed. |
Run setup.
|
|
CMOS System Optons Not
Set |
CMOS values are either
corrupt or do not exist. |
Run Setup.
|
|
Display Switch Not
Proper |
Many motherboards have a
jumper setting that allows you to specify whether you have a color or
monochrome monitor. |
Correct the switch
position. |
|
Keyboard is locked ...
Unlock it |
|
Unlock the keyboard.
|
|
Keyboard
Error |
There is a problem with
the keyboard |
Make sure your keyboard
BIOS is compatible, that the keyboard is plugged in completely, and that
no keys are stuck. Or, change the BIOS keyboard setting to "Not Installed"
to skip the test. |
|
K/B Interface
Error |
There is a problem with
the keyboard connector on the motherboard. |
|
|
FDD Controller Failure
|
The BIOS cannot
communicate with the floppy drive controller. |
The floppy may be
disabled, also check that the cable is not loose.
|
|
HDD Controller Failure
|
As above, but for hard
disks. |
|
|
C: Drive
Error |
The system cannot get a
response from drive C. |
The hard disk type is
most likely set incorrectly, or the disk may not be formatted or connected
properly. |
|
D: Drive
Error |
Same as above except for
drive D. |
Same as above.
|
|
C: Drive Failure
|
The drive was detected
but failed. More serious than error. |
|
|
D: Drive
Failure |
Same as above.
|
|
|
CMOS Time and Date Not
Set |
|
Run
Setup |
|
Cache Memory Bad, do Not
Enable Cache! |
|
Cache may indeed be bad,
if so replace. May simply need re-seating. |
|
8042 Gate-A20 Error!
|
The Gate-A20 portion of
the keyboard controller has failed. |
Replace the keyboard chip
(8042) |
|
Address Line
Short |
There is a problem with
the memory address decoding circuitry. |
Try rebooting, (turn the
system off and then on 10 seconds later). The problem may correct itself.
|
|
DMA #1
Error |
There is an error in the
first DMA channel on the motherboard |
Could be caused by a
peripheral device. |
|
DMA Error
|
There is an error within
the DMA controller on the motherboard. |
|
|
No ROM Basic.
|
There is nothing to boot
from. (i.e.- the system cannot find an operating system).
|
Be certain that a
bootable disk is defined in the system setup. |
|
Diskette Boot Failure
|
The diskette in the
specified boot-up drive is corrupt. |
|
|
Invalid Boot Diskette
|
Same as above, but the
disk is readable. |
|
|
On Board Parity Error
|
There is a parity error
with memory on the motherboard at address XXXX (hex). (On Board specifies
that the memory is not on an expansion board, but rather is located on the
motherboard physically). |
Possibly correctable with
software from the motherboard manufacturer. (also do a Virus Check - some
viruses cause parity errors). |
|
Off Board Parity Error
|
There is a parity error
with memory installed in an expansion slot at address XXXX (hex)
|
Same as above.
|
|
Parity
Error |
There is a parity error
with memory somewhere in the system. |
Same as above.
|
|
Memory Parity Error at
XXXX |
Memory has failed. If it
cannot be determined, it is displayed as XXXX, if not, as ????
|
Same as above.
|
|
I/O Card Parity Error at
XXXX |
Same as above.
|
Same as above.
|
|
DMA Bus
Time-out |
A device has driven the
bus signal for more than 7.8 microseconds. |
Troubleshoot all system
boards. (remove them and try to isolate the failure)
|
|
Memory mismatch, run
Setup |
|
Disable Memory Relocation
if possible. |
|
EISA CMOS Checksum
Failure |
The checksom for EISA
CMOS is bad, or the battery is bad. |
|
|
EISA CMOS
Inoperational |
A read/write failure
occured in extended CMOS RAM. |
The battery may be bad.
|
|
Expansion Board not ready
at Slot X |
BIOS cannot find the
expansion board in X slot. |
Verify that the board is
in the correct slot and is seated properly. |
|
Fail-Safe Timer NMI
Inoperational |
Devices that depend on
the fail-safe NMI timer are not operating correctly.
|
|
|
ID information mismatch
for Slot X |
The ID of the EISA
expansion board in slot X does not match the ID in CMOS RAM.
|
|
|
Invalid Configuration
Information for Slot X |
The configuration
information for EISA board X is not correct. |
Run the ECU.
|
|
Software Port NMI
Inoperational |
The software port NMI is
not working. |
|
|
BUS Timeout NMI at Slot
X |
There was a bus timeout
NMI at Slot X. |
|
|
(E)nable (D)isable
Expansion Board? |
|
Type E to enable the
board that had an NMI or D to disable it. |
|
Expansion Board disabled
at Slot X |
The expansion board NMI
was generated from slot X. |
|
|
Fail-Safe Timer NMI
|
A fail-safe timer NMI has
been generated. |
|
|
Software Port
NMI |
A software port NMI has
been generated. |
|
