Troubleshooting
Digital PRIORIS ZX Server
72
MCS Logistics Engineering - Nijmegen
Beep Codes
When POST finds an error and cannot display a message, the server's speaker emits a series of beeps to
indicate the error and places a value in I/O port 80h. During POST, if the video configuration fails or if an
external ROM module fails a checksum test, then the server beeps three times (one long beep and two short
beeps).
The following table lists other fatal errors and their associated beep codes. Each code represents the
number of short beeps that are grouped together. Fatal errors (errors that lock up the server) are generally
the result of a failed main logic board or some other add-on component (SIMM, BIOS, server battery, etc.).
Beeps
Error Message
Conditions
1
Refresh failure
Memory refresh circuitry on the main logic board is
faulty
2
Parity error can’t be reset
Parity error in the first 64 KB memory
3
Base 64 KB memory failure
Memory failure in first 64 KB memory
4
Timer not operational
Timer on main logic board not operational or
memory failure in first 64 KB memory
5
Processor failure
CPU on main logic board generated an error
6
8042 gate A20 failure
BIOS cannot switch to protected mode Keyboard
controller might be bad
7
Processor exception interrupt
error
Processor exception interrupt error
8
Display memory read/write error
Video controller is missing or its memory is faulty
(not a fatal error)
9
ROM checksum error
ROM checksum value does not match encoded
value in BIOS
10
CMOS shutdown register
read/write error
Shutdown register for CMOS RAM failed
POST and Boot Messages
The POST displays messages to alert to errors in hardware, software and firmware or to provide operating
information about the server.
Each time the POST displays a message on the screen, the server's speaker beeps twice. If an error occurs
before the monitor is initialized, specific beep codes sound to alert to a problem. The BIOS indicates errors
by writing an error code to the PS/2-standard logging area in the Extended BIOS Data Area, and by
displaying a message on the screen, which is preceded by the POST Error Code. The BIOS logs the error
code in the Critical Event Logging area.
NOTE
Italics indicate variable parts of a message such as memory addresses, hexadecimal
values and so on. These messages can differ at each occurrence.
