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If my computer beeps and fails to boot, what do the beeps mean?

On startup, computers perform a Power-on Self Test, commonly referred to as a POST. If problems are found while booting, you can usually diagnose them using the error codes displayed on the screen. However, if nothing displays on the screen, the computer might use sounds (i.e., beep codes) to tell you what is wrong. Many of these errors indicate hardware problems that a service technician should fix. However, some errors are easily fixed. For example, keyboard controller errors often mean that your keyboard isn't plugged in.
Following are beep codes for some common brands of BIOS for PCs. For information about Macintosh beep codes or startup tones :
Note: Many BIOSes will have different beep codes even if they appear to be from the same manufacturer. This is because motherboard manufacturers reprogram codes to reflect their own customizations. You can often go to the web site for the motherboard's manufacturer to find the updated codes, but you may find cases where the manufacturer simply does not document the changes.
For more about beeps and error codes, see ComputerHope.com's Computer POST/beep codes.

Award

Award BIOSes typically use more screen errors than beep codes.
For Award BIOSes manufactured by Phoenix Technologies, note the following from the Phoenix Technologies AwardBIOS Error Messages page:

"The only AwardBIOS beep code indicates that a video error has occurred and the BIOS cannot initialize the video screen to display any additional information. This beep code consists of a single long beep followed by two short beeps. Any other beeps are probably RAM (Random Access Memory) problems."

Award BIOSes not manufactured under Phoenix Technologies use the following beeps; this information is from the BIOS Central Award BIOS Beep Codes page:

Beeps	Meaning
1 long, 2 short	Video adapter error: Bad or improperly seated video card
Repeating beeps	Memory error: Bad or improperly seated RAM
1 long, 3 short	Bad video RAM or video card not present
High-frequency beeps	Overheated CPU: Check fans
Repeating high/low beeps	CPU: Improperly seated or defective CPU

AMI (American Megatrends)

The information below is from the BIOS Central AMI BIOS Beep Codes page.

Beeps	Meaning
1 short	DRAM refresh failure
2 short	Parity circuit failure in the first 64KB of RAM: Likely a bad RAM IC, or possibly one of the hardware tests has failed
3 short	Memory failure in the first 64KB of RAM: Likely a bad RAM IC
4 short	System timer failure: Bad clock IC or bad RAM in the first bank of memory
5 short	Processor failure: The CPU has failed.
6 short	Keyboard controller Gate A20 error: The keyboard controller has failed. Due to its integration into the system board, you usually must replace the motherboard.
7 short	Virtual mode exception error: CPU has generated an exception error; bad CPU or motherboard
8 short	Display memory Read/Write test failure: Bad video card
9 short	ROM BIOS checksum failure: BIOS is defective
10 short	CMOS shutdown Read/Write error
11 short	Cache Memory error: Specifically, the L2 cache is bad.
1 long, 2 short	Video system failure: Error in video card BIOS, or a horizontal retrace has failed
1 long, 3 short	Conventional/Extended memory failure: RAM is bad
1 long, 8 short	Display/Retrace test failed: Video adapter is defective or missing

AST BIOS

The following information is from the BIOS Central AST BIOS Beep Codes page.

Beeps	Meaning
1 short	CPU register test failure: The CPU has failed.
2 short	Keyboard controller buffer failure: The keyboard controller has failed.
3 short	Keyboard controller reset failure: The keyboard controller has failed or the motherboard circuitry is faulty.
4 short	Keyboard communication failure: Bad keyboard controller or keyboard
5 short	Keyboard input failure: The keyboard controller IC has failed.
6 short	System board chipset failure: The chipset on the motherboard has failed. Replace the motherboard.
9 short	BIOS ROM checksum error: The BIOS ROM has failed. If possible, replace the BIOS on the motherboard.
10 short	System timer test failure: The system clock IC has failed.
11 short	ASIC failure: Motherboard circuitry has failed. Replace the motherboard.
12 short	CMOS RAM shutdown register failure: The real-time clock/CMOS IC failed. Replace the CMOS or motherboard.
1 long	DMA controller 0 failure: The DMA controller IC for channel 0 has failed. If possible, replace the IC.
1 long, 1 short	DMA controller 1 failure: The DMA controller IC for channel 1 has failed. If possible, replace the IC.
1 long, 2 short	Video vertical retrace failure: The video adapter has probably failed. Replace the video adapter.
1 long, 3 short	Video memory test failure: The video adapter's memory has failed. Replace the video adapter.
1 long, 4 short	Video adapter failure: The video adapter has failed. Replace the video adapter.
1 long, 5 short	64KB memory failure: A failure has occurred in the base 64KB of memory. If possible, replace the RAM IC.
1 long, 6 short	Unable to load interrupt vectors: The BIOS was unable to load the interrupt vectors into memory.
1 long, 7 short	Unable to initialize video: This is a video problem. Replace the video adapter first. If the problem persists, replace the motherboard.
Regards,	Vijay Shankar, II Bsc CS