Why is my Computer Beeping?
A continuous beep might alarm you, especially if the Windows do not start normally after you turn the computer on. So, if you don’t know already, there’s a reason why your PC or laptop beeps.
All computers and laptops come with a code system powered by the BIOS chip on the motherboard. These codes unfold themselves in the form of beeping, so whenever something goes wrong with the computer hardware, they become active. You may also call these the “error codes” or “beep codes.”
Usually, when there’s an issue in the computer and your Windows won’t start, you get a few options for troubleshooting from the startup like booting in the safe mode or factory resetting; however, when you hear beeping, it’s only because you can’t reach the stage of startup diagnostics.
That’s why you can only rely on the beeping pattern to figure out the problem. But, another thing that’s challenging here is that there’s no same beeping pattern for all computers. This means you would need to know what BIOS chip you’re using. Also, the motherboard, BIOS chip, and computer model are manufactured by different companies. So, remember your focus is supposed to be on the BIOS brand for recognizing the beep issues.
How to determine the beeping pattern?
Your number one step should be finding the BIOS brand. The three most widely used brands are Phoenix, AMI and Award which are typically found in computers. Once you identify the BIOS, you may move on to the next step which would be noting the beeping pattern. The beeps could be long or short alternating in a pattern. For instance, there could be three short beeps consecutively or one long and two short beeps, indicating different hardware problems.
So, you may note down the pattern and follow the beep-code guide to figure out the issue. For example, if your BIOS is AMI and you hear eight short beeps, this could represent a video card error. So, you may check whether the video card is seated properly in its place and restart to see if the problem is gone. In case the beeping persists, replace the video card.
You could find the manuals online by visiting the manufacturer’s website or searching the booklet that comes with your computer. Some beep codes are further personalised by the computer manufacturer, so it’s best to rely on the manual you get with the machine for exact diagnosis.
Final Thoughts:
It might not be very easy to decipher the beep codes but you can try a couple of times by restarting the gadget and listening again and again carefully to track the number of beeps, noting down the sequence and implementing the relevant solution. Having the guide in front of you is the key point. So, once you hear a combination, consult the BIOS error code guide and follow the fix.
If it gets too confusing or nerve-wrecking for you to handle, contact a professional PC expert who can help with the decoding and take care of any hardware problem that shows up in the results.