If you have a Supermicro H8DA8 motherboard with the latest 5/22/06 BIOS heed this warning. If you have the on board SCSI controller turned on and you turn both serial ports off in the BIOS config your machine will hang on the next boot. The hang will be a blank screen after POST with a blinking cursor in the upper left hand corner of the screen. Supermicro has acknowledged this problem through my correspondence with them. They said it's a problem with the Adaptec controller on the board. The only way to fix it is to leave the serial ports turned on.
If you do turn them off and get the blank screen your will not be able to get back into the bios. To remedy this you will need to disable the SCSI chip by jumping it off on the motherboard. The pin for that is JPA1. Then boot and go into the BIOS and turn the serial ports back on. After that its up to you to jump the SCSI chip back on if you like.
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I was getting the error "error loading operating system" after restoring a partition image from partimage. I thought it was the master boot record or the boot partition so I tried booting the windows rescue cd and going to a rescue prompt and typing "fixmbr" and "fixboot" that did not work. It just messed up the partition table. Even tried the old DOS boot disk and the "fdisk /mbr" trick (I've read not to use the fdisk /mbr command on a WinXP or 2k and up machines). I still got nothing same error. Then I found out that the crap computer I was using had a BIOS that when set to "auto detect" decided to not choose "LBA" for it's block mode. Well forcing this setting and reinstalling the OS then redoing the image worked. I made the partition again and put the image back on and walla it works. So remember take bios off "Auto" and select "LBA" if you see this error. Don't forget to put the bootable flag on after you restore the partition. If you forget you'll get "No operating system found".
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These are BIOS beep codes that can help you determine what is wrong with a computer when you turn it on and it just starts beeping. That beeping is a code that has a error attached to it. Below are some of the codes and meanings from different manufacturers.
Thanks to Postcode from BIOS Central for these codes
AMI BIOS Beep Codes
|
Beeps |
Error Message |
Description |
| 1 short | DRAM refresh failure | The programmable interrupt timer or programmable interrupt controller has probably failed |
| 2 short | Memory parity error | A memory parity error has occurred in the first 64K of RAM. The RAM IC is probably bad |
| 3 short | Base 64K memory failure | A memory failure has occurred in the first 64K of RAM. The RAM IC is probably bad |
| 4 short | System timer failure | The system clock/timer IC has failed or there is a memory error in the first bank of memory |
| 5 short | Processor error | The system CPU has failed |
| 6 short | Gate A20 failure | The keyboard controller IC has failed, which is not allowing Gate A20 to switch the processor to protected mode. Replace the keyboard controller |
| 7 short | Virtual mode processor exception error | The CPU has generated an exception error because of a fault in the CPU or motherboard circuitry |
| 8 short | Display memory read/write error | The system video adapter is missing or defective |
| 9 short | ROM checksum error | The contents of the system BIOS ROM does not match the expected checksum value. The BIOS ROM is probably defective and should be replaced |
| 10 short | CMOS shutdown register read/write error | The shutdown for the CMOS has failed |
| 11 short | Cache error | The L2 cache is faulty |
| 1 long, 2 short | Failure in video system | An error was encountered in the video BIOS ROM, or a horizontal retrace failure has been encountered |
| 1 long, 3 short | Memory test failure | A fault has been detected in memory above 64KB |
| 1 long, 8 short | Display test failure | The video adapter is either missing or defective |
| 2 short | POST Failure | One of the hardware testa have failed |
| 1 long | POST has passed all tests |
AST BIOS Beep Codes:
|
Beeps |
Error Message |
Description |
| 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 | Either the keyboard controller IC or the associated circuitry has failed. replace the keyboard first, then is still faulty, replace the keyboard controller IC |
| 5 short | Keyboard input failure | The keyboard controller IC has failed. Replace the IC |
| 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 a video problem. Replace the video adapter first. If problem is still present, replace the motherboard |
| 1 long, 8 short | Video memory failure | The is a failure in the video memory. Replace the video adapter first. If problem is still present, replace the motherboard |
Award BIOS Beep Codes:
|
Beeps |
Error Message |
Description |
| 1long, 2 short | Video adapter error | Either video adapter is bad or is not seated properly. Also, check to ensure the monitor cable is connected properly. |
| Repeating (endless loop) | Memory error | Check for improperly seated or missing memory. |
| 1long, 3short | No video card or bad video RAM | Reseat or replace the video card. |
| High frequency beeeps while running | Overheated CPU | Check the CPU fan for proper operation. Check the case for proper air flow. |
| Repeating High/Low | CPU | Either the CPU is not seated properly or the CPU is damaged. May also be due to excess heat. Check the CPU fan or BIOS settings for proper fan speed. |
Compaq BIOS Beep Codes:
| Beeps |
Error Message |
Description |
| 1 short | No error | System is booting properly |
| 1 long, 1 short | BIOS ROM checksum error | The contents of the BIOS ROM to not match the expected contents. If possible, reload the BIOS from the PAQ |
| 2 short | General error | Unknown |
| 1 long, 2 short | Video error | Check the video adapter and ensure it's seated properly. If possible, replace the video adapter |
| 7 beeps (1 long, 1s, 1l, 1 short, pause, 1 long, 1 short, 1 short | AGP video | The AGP video card is faulty. Reseat the card or replace it outright. This beep pertains to Compaq Deskpro systems |
| 1 long neverending beep |
Memory error. Bad RAM. Replace and test |
|
| 1 short, 2 long | Bad RAM | Reseat RAM then retest; replace RAM if failure continues |
IBM Desktop BIOS Beep Codes:
|
Beeps |
Error Message |
Description |
| 1 short | Normal POST | System is booting properly |
| 2 short | Initialization error | Error code is displayed |
| 1 long, 1 short | System board error | |
| 1 long, 2 short | Video adapter error | |
| 1 long, 3 short | EGA/VGA adapter error | |
| 3 long | 3270 keyboard adapter error | |
| Continuous | Power supply error | Replace the power supply |
| 999s | Power supply error | Replace the power supply |
| No beep | Power supply | Replace the power supply |
Mylex BIOS Beep Codes:
|
Beeps |
Error Message |
Description |
| 1 | Normal boot | System is booting normally |
| 2 | Video adapter error | The video adapter is either faulty or not seated properly. Check the adapter |
| 3 | Keyboard controller error | The keyboard controller IC is faulty. Replace the IC if possible |
| 4 | Keyboard error | The keyboard controller IC is faulty or the keyboard is faulty. Replace the keyboard, if problem still persists, replace the keyboard controller IC |
| 5 | PIC 0 error | The programmable interrupt controller is faulty. Replace the IC if possible |
| 6 | PIC 1 error | The programmable interrupt controller is faulty. replace the IC if possible |
| 7 | DMA page register error | The DMA controller IC is faulty. Replace the IC if possible |
| 8 | RAM refresh error | |
| 9 | RAM data error | |
| 10 | RAM parity error | |
| 11 | DMA controller 0 error |
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