Microsoft® Windows® XP Beep Codes

As you are attempting to work on your PC, you might here a long beep sound from the system. This beep sound is an audio signal produced by the computer to alert you the result of a short diagnostic testing sequence your system performs on the first powering up. The beep sound is a coded message which tells you what is wrong with your system. The beep sound is created by the POST. The POST is a small program which checks the system to make sure if the system is having sufficient requirements. If everything tests out correctly, the system will produce a single beep and will continue to work. If anything is wrong with the system, the system will show error messages and announce the errors audibly with a series of beeps with different pitch, number and duration. There is no official standard for these beep sounds. These beep sounds have different audio patterns for different BIOS programs. The beeps are of different types; long, short, continuous, repeated etc and each has its own meaning.

• Check the BIOS
• Check the memory
• Check the internal parts of PC

Check the BIOS

The beep sound is different for different systems. The audio patterns of the beep sound vary according to the manufacturer of the computer’s BIOS program. If you hear a beep sound on start-up, then it is better for you to determine the type of BIOS. Then take the list of beep sound with those particular BIOS. You might get the information on BIOS and beep sounds from the system manufacturer’s website. Use this information and determine the meaning of the beep sound being produced by your system.

Check the memory

The system might produce beep sound because of the lack of memory. The system might not be having enough memory for its works. This problem might arise if the memory module is not inserted properly. Try to clean the slot as well as the card and then insert the card properly. If the system still continues produce beep sounds, you have to check the condition of the memory card. Check if the card is working properly. If the memory card is damaged, try to repair the memory card or install a new one.

This method is a little bit complicated, but any novice network administrator can do it. You must create a group The system might sometimes produce the beep sound as it detects some problems with the internal parts of the PC. You have to check if all internal parts are working in proper condition. Sometimes, the system might get problems due to overheating. The other components of the system might get damaged due to the overheating. Usually continuous hi-low beep sound refers to overheating problems. Then you have to remove internal parts from the PC and clean the parts and replace the damaged components.