Micro Firmware Tech Support

Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS / PhoenixBIOS 1.xx POST/BEEP Codes


Filename: BEEP3.TXT
WWW URL:  http://www.firmware.com/support/bios/beep3.htm
FTP URL:  ftp://ftp.firmware.com/text/beep3.txt
Revision: 06/17/96
Summary:  Listing of error codes (port 80h hex values and 3-part beep
          codes) used by older Phoenix BIOSes.

The Phoenix BIOS will issue an audible beep code in the event of a system error encountered during the Power On Self Test (POST). A numeric value is also sent to port 80h representing the current state of the POST. In the event of a fatal system error during initialization, the code representing the portion of the POST causing the failure will be the last value sent to port 80h.

The code at port 80h is used by plug-in diagnostic boards that decode the contents of the port address and displays the numeric value on an LED display. These diagnostic boards are available from a number of vendors.

As any experienced technician knows, a failure at any given location does not necessarily mean that the particular part or section under test has actually failed. For example, any problem with the motherboard address lines or local bus can cause the CMOS read/write test to fail, even though the CMOS RAM may work perfectly.

If you require further details or assistance in dealing with a fatal system board error, please do not contact Micro Firmware. You need to seek the assistance of a qualified computer service technician in your area.

This POST/BEEP code list is applicable only to Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS or PhoenixBIOS A286/A386/A486 Version 1.xx on an AT-class (80286 or higher) system. For PhoenixBIOS 4.x, please see BEEP4.TXT.


Port 80h Beep Value Code Error/Test Description
01h none 80286 register test in progress 02h 1-1-3 CMOS write/read test in progress or failure 03h 1-1-4 BIOS ROM checksum in progress or failure 04h 1-2-1 Programmable Interval Timer test in progress or failure 05h 1-2-2 DMA initialization in progress or failure 06h 1-2-3 DMA page register write/read test in progress or fail 08h 1-3-1 RAM refresh verification in progress or failure 09h none 1st 64K RAM test in progress 0Ah 1-3-3 1st 64K RAM chip or data line failure - multi-bit 0Bh 1-3-4 1st 64K RAM odd/even logic failure 0Ch 1-4-1 1st 64K RAM address line failure 0Dh 1-4-2 1st 64K RAM parity test in progress or failure 10h 2-1-1 1st 64K RAM chip or data line failure - bit 0 11h 2-1-2 1st 64K RAM chip or data line failure - bit 1 12h 2-1-3 1st 64K RAM chip or data line failure - bit 2 13h 2-1-4 1st 64K RAM chip or data line failure - bit 3 14h 2-2-1 1st 64K RAM chip or data line failure - bit 4 15h 2-2-2 1st 64K RAM chip or data line failure - bit 5 16h 2-2-3 1st 64K RAM chip or data line failure - bit 6 17h 2-2-4 1st 64K RAM chip or data line failure - bit 7 18h 2-3-1 1st 64K RAM chip or data line failure - bit 8 19h 2-3-2 1st 64K RAM chip or data line failure - bit 9 1Ah 2-3-3 1st 64K RAM chip or data line failure - bit A 1Bh 2-3-4 1st 64K RAM chip or data line failure - bit B 1Ch 2-4-1 1st 64K RAM chip or data line failure - bit C 1Dh 2-4-2 1st 64K RAM chip or data line failure - bit D 1Eh 2-4-3 1st 64K RAM chip or data line failure - bit E 1Fh 2-4-4 1st 64K RAM chip or data line failure - bit F 20h 3-1-1 master DMA register test in progress or failure 21h 3-1-2 slave DMA register test in progress or failure 22h 3-1-3 master interrupt mask register test in progress or fail 23h 3-1-4 slave interrupt mask register test in progress or fail 25h none interrupt vector loading in progress 27h 3-2-4 keyboard controller test in progress or failure 28h none CMOS power-fail and checksum checks in progress 29h none CMOS config info validation in progress 2Bh 3-3-4 screen memory test in progress or failure 2Ch 3-4-1 screen initialization in progress or failure 2Dh 3-4-2 screen retrace tests in progress or failure 2Eh none search for video ROM in progress 30h none screen believed operable: 30h none screen believed running w/ video ROM 31h none monochromatic screen believed operable 32h none 40-column color screen believed operable 33h none 80-column color screen believed operable 34h 4-2-1 timer tick interrupt test in progress or failure 35h 4-2-2 shutdown test in progress or failure 36h 4-2-3 gate A20 failure 37h 4-2-4 unexpected interrupt in protected mode 38h 4-3-1 RAM test in progress or failure above address 0FFFFh 3Ah 4-3-3 Interval timer channel 2 test in progress or failure 3Bh 4-3-4 Time-Of-Day clock test in progress or failure 3Ch 4-4-1 Serial port test in progress or failure 3Dh 4-4-2 Parallel port test in progress or failure 3Eh 4-4-3 Math Coprocessor test in progress or failure
Error codes in the 50h range or beyond are chip set or custom platform specific, and will vary from system to system. Contact your system manufacturer for details.


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