BIOS problems can be hard to figure out. You know you have a problem when you start up your PC and you get to the BIOS summary screen (it’s a lot of text), but never get to Windows. Often, you can diagnose a specific BIOS issue by listening for “beep codes.” BIOS manufacturers have designed a series of codes, emitted by your PC on startup, that tell you exactly the source of the issue.
Here’s a great resource for getting to know your BIOS “beep codes.”
BIOS Beep Codes
“But,” you say, “What do I do now?” Because there are many BIOS manufacturers, it would be very difficult to explain each and every one of them here. Fortunately, we all have Google, which will help you find a solution to your problem.
Suffice it to say that often the cause of a BIOS issue is hardware and the POST (Power On Self Test) will tell you what it is. Simply remove the hardware, if possible, or reconnect it, and restart your machine.
Additionally, you’ll want to make sure you have the latest BIOS edition (but only if you’re having problems). You can get the latest version of your particular BIOS by navigating to your BIOS manufacturer’s web site.
Here’s a great resource on “flashing” your BIOS (that means installing a version of the BIOS):
How to Flash Your BIOS
So there you have it. BIOS issues can be difficult to resolve, but with some persistence and judicious use of the web, you can resolve them yourself.
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