The Beginner's Guide to PhoenixBIOS Beep Codes

PhoenixBIOS is a kind of BIOS manufactured by Phoenix Technologies. A majority of modern motherboard manufacturers have integrated Phoenix Technologies' PhoenixBIOS into their systems.

Several custom implementations of the PhoenixBIOS system exist in many popular motherboards. The beep codes from a Phoenix-based BIOS may be exactly the same as the true Phoenix beep codes below or they may vary. You can always check your motherboard manual to be sure.

Note: PhoenixBIOS beep codes are short, sound in quick succession, and usually sound immediately after powering on the PC.

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1 Beep

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A single beep from a Phoenix based BIOS is actually an "all systems clear" notification. Technically, it's an indication that the Power On Self Test is complete. No troubleshooting necessary!

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1 Continuous Beep

One continuous beep isn't an officially listed Phoenix beep code but I know of several instances of this occurring. In at least one case, the solution was to reseat the CPU.

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1 Short Beep, 1 Long Beep

One short beep followed by one long beep also isn't an officially listed Phoenix beep code but two readers have let me know about this one. In both cases, the problem was bad RAM which replacing obviously solved.

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1 Long Beep, 2 Short Beeps

One long beep followed by two short beeps indicates that there has been a checksum error. This means that there is some kind of motherboard issue. Replacing the motherboard should fix this problem.

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1-1-1-1 Beep Code Pattern

Technically, a 1-1-1-1 beep code pattern doesn't exist but I've seen it and many readers have too. Most often, it's a problem with the system memory. This Phoenix BIOS issue is usually corrected by replacing the RAM.

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1-2-2-3 Beep Code Pattern

A 1-2-2-3 beep code pattern means that there has been a BIOS ROM checksum error. Literally, this would indicate an issue with the BIOS chip on the motherboard. Since replacing a BIOS chip is often not possible, this Phoenix BIOS issue is usually corrected by replacing the entire motherboard.

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1-3-1-1 Beep Code Pattern

A 1-3-1-1 beep code pattern on a PhoenixBIOS system means that there has been an issue while testing the DRAM refresh. This could be a problem with the system memory, an expansion card, or the motherboard.

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1-3-1-3 Beep Code Pattern

A 1-3-1-3 beep code pattern means that the 8742 keyboard controller test has failed. This usually means that there is a problem with the currently connected keyboard but it could also indicate a motherboard issue.

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1-3-4-1 Beep Code Pattern

A 1-3-1-1 beep code pattern on a PhoenixBIOS system means that there is some kind of issue with the RAM. Replacing the system memory usually fixes this problem.

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1-3-4-3 Beep Code Pattern

A 1-3-1-1 beep code pattern indicates some kind of issue with the memory. Replacing the RAM is the usual recommendation for solving this problem.

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1-4-1-1 Beep Code Pattern

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A 1-4-1-1 beep code pattern on a PhoenixBIOS system means that there is an issue with the system memory. Replacing the RAM usually fixes this problem.

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2-1-2-3 Beep Code Pattern

A 2-1-2-3 beep code pattern means that there has been a BIOS ROM error, meaning an issue with the BIOS chip on the motherboard. This Phoenix BIOS issue is usually corrected by replacing the motherboard.

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2-2-3-1 Beep Code Pattern

A 2-2-3-1 beep code pattern on a PhoenixBIOS system means that there has been an issue while testing hardware related to IRQs. This could be a hardware or misconfiguration problem with an expansion card or some kind of motherboard failure.

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Other Phoenix Beep Codes

Many other PhoenixBIOS beep codes exist but are very uncommon. If you happen to come across a Phoenix beep code that I don't have listed above, let me know and I'll add the beep code and associated troubleshooting information to the list above.

Not Using a Phoenix BIOS (PhoenixBIOS) or Not Sure?

If you're not using a Phoneix based BIOS then the troubleshooting guides above won't help. To see troubleshooting information for other types of BIOS systems or to figure out what kind of BIOS you have, see my How to Troubleshoot Beep Codes guide.