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BIOS PostCodes:

Intel Motherboards:
T440BX
VC820

 

For their PS/2 systems, IBM used a system of diagnostic codes to diagnose trouble spots in a given computer.  The problem was, these diagnostic codes were never really documented all that well.  The codes that I am presenting here are from documents I have read through, found on the web, found in old books, documents and technical papers.  As a computer technician, I rely on documentation to guide me through these types of messages.  Therefore, I hope to provide this to all those other technicians out there who get the opportunity to work on one of these.  And, yes, people still use them and some refuse to give them up.

The method for reading these codes is pretty straight forward.  The first part of the error code indicates the device that is causing the trouble.  The second part gives the meaning of the error.  You can think of the first part as the test code and the second part as the fault code.  A fault code of 00 indicates that no problem was found.  Thus 200 means the system memory was tested.   The 00 means that no fault was found.  201 would mean a memory error.   202 would mean memory address error; lines 00-15. 

This page is rather extensive and will be updated on a regular basis.  Like all the other codes out there.  If you know of any error codes that I am displaying incorrectly or that aren't here.  Let me know and I'll get it corrected as soon as I can.

Thanks to Mike Rose for erors 129 and 229!

System Board Errors:

Code

Description

101 System board interrupt failure (unexpected interrupt)
102 BIOS ROM checksum error (PC, XT); timer error (AT, MCA)
103 BASIC ROM checksum error (PC, XT); timer interrupt error (AT, MCA)
104 Interrupt controller error (PC, XT); protected mode error (AT, MCA)
105 Timer failure (PC, XT); 8042 keyboard controller failure (MCA)
106 System board converting logic test failure
107 System board non-maskable interrupt (NMI) test failure; Hot NMI test failure (MCA)
108 System board timer bus test failure
109 DMA test memory select failure
110 PS/2 system board parity check error (MCA); PS/2 system board memory error (ISA)
111 PS/2 adapter memory problem (ISA); PS/2 I/O channel parity check error (MCA)
112 PS/2 watchdog timeout error (NMI)
113 PS/2 DMA arbitration time out error (NMI)
114 PS/2 external ROM checksum error
115 BIOS ROM checksum error, cache parity error, or DMA error
116 System board read/write error
118 System Board parity or L2 cache error
119 2.88MB floppy installed but not supported by the floppy controller
120 CPU self test error
121 Unexpected hardware interrupt occurred; 256KB ROM checksum error (second 128KB bank)
129 System Board Failure
131 Cassette wrap test; DMA compatibility registers error
132 DMA extended registers error
133 DMA verify logic error
134 DMA arbitration error
151 Battery, real time clock, or CMOS RAM failure
152 Real time clock, or CMOS RAM failure
160 PS/2 system board ID not recognized
161 CMOS configuration lost (battery has died)
162 CMOS checksum error, CRC error, or adapter ID mismatch
163 CMOS error; Clock is not updating
164 CMOS error; CMOS setting does not match memory on system board
165 PS/2 adapter ID mismatch
166 PS/2 adapter time out; card busy
167 PS/2 system clock not updating
168 Math coprocessor error in the CMOS configuration
169 System board and processor card configuration mismatch
170 ASCII setup conflict error
171 Rolling bit test failure on CMOS shutdown byte
172 Rolling bit test failure on NVRAM diagnostic byte
173 Bad CMOS/NVRAM checksum
174 Bad system configuration
175 Bad EEPROM CRC
177 Bad password CRC
178 Bad EEPROM
179 NVRAM error log full
180x Sub address date error in slot x
181 Unsupported configuration
182 Password switch is not in the writing position
183 System halted; password is required
184 Bad power on password
185 Bad startup sequence
186 Password protection hardware error
187 Serial number error
188 Bad EEPROM checksum
189 Too many incorrect password attempts
191 Cache controller test failed
194 System board memory error
195 Configuration read from hibernation area of HDD doesn't match actual configuration
196 Read error occurred in hibernation area of HDD
199 User indicated device list not correct

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Memory Errors:

Code

Description

20x Memory error
201 Memory test failure; error location might be displayed
202 Memory address error; lines 00-15
203 Memory address error; lines 16-23 (ISA) or 16-31 (MCA)
204 Memory remapped due to error (run diagnostics again)
205 Base 128KB memory error; memory remapped
207 ROM failure
210 System board memory parity error
211 Error in first 64KB of RAM
212 Watchdog timer error
213 DMA bus arbitration time out
215 Memory address error; 64KB on daughter/SIP 2 failed
216 Memory address error; 64KB on daughter/SIP 1 failed
221 ROM to RAM copy failed
225 Wrong speed memory on system board
229 Memory Error
230 Overlapping adapter and planar memory
231 Non continuous adapter memory installed
235 Stuck data line on memory module
241 Memory module 2 failed
251 Memory module 3 failed

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Keyboard Errors:

Code

Description

301 Keyboard did not respond correctly
302 Keyboard locked
303 Keyboard and/or system board interface error; keyboard controller fault
304 Keyboard or system unit error
305 Keyboard fuse failed on system board
306 Unsupported keyboard attached
341 Keyboard error
342 Keyboard cable error
343 Enhancement card or cable error
365 Keyboard failure
366 Interface cable failure
367 Enhancement card or cable failure

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Monochrome Display Adapter Errors:

Code

Description

401 Memory, horizontal sync frequency or vertical sync failure
408 User indicated display attribute failure
416 User indicated character set failure
424 User indicated 80 x 25 mode failure
432 MDA card parallel port test failure

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Color Graphics Adapter Errors:

Code

Description

501 CRT error; CGA memory, horizontal sync frequency or video test failure
503 CGA adapter controller failed
508 User display attribute failure
516 User indicated character set failure
524 User indicated 80 x 25 mode failure
532 User indicated 40 x 25 mode failure
540 User indicated 320 x 200 graphics mode failure
548 User indicated 640 x 200 graphics mode failure
556 User indicated light pen test failed
564 User indicated paging test failure

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Floppy Drive/Controller Errors:

Code

Description

601 General diskette or adapter failure
602 Diskette boot sector is not valid
603 Diskette size error
604 Media sense error
605 Diskette drive locked
606 Diskette verify test failed
607 Write protect error
608 Drive command error
610 Diskette initialization failure
611 Drive time out error
612 NEC drive controller IC error
613 Floppy system DMA error
614 Floppy system DMA boundary overrun error
615 Drive index timing error
616 Drive speed error
621 Drive seek error
622 Drive cyclic redundancy check (CRC) error
625 Controller chip (NEC) seek error
626 Diskette data compare error
627 Diskette data compare error
628 Diskette removed
630 Index stuck high; drive A:
631 Index stuck low; drive A:
632 Track 0 stuck off; drive A:
632 Track 0 stuck on; drive A:
640 Index stuck high; drive B:
641 Index stuck low; drive B:
642 Track 0 stuck off; drive B:
643 Track 0 stuck on; drive B:
645 No index pulse
646 Drive track 0 detection failed
647 No transitions on read data line
648 Format test failed
649 Incorrect media type in drive
650 Drive speed error
651 Format failure
652 Verify failure
653 Read failure
654 Write failure
655 Controller error
656 Drive failure
657 Write protect stuck protected
658 Changeline stuck unprotected
659 Write protected stuck unprotected
660 Changeline stuck unchanged

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Math Coprocessor Errors:

Code

Description

701 Math coprocessor presence/initialization error
702 Exception errors test failure
703 Rounding test failure
704 Arithmetic test 1 failure
705 Arithmetic test 2 failure
706 Arithmetic test 3 failure; Test is performed on 80387 only
707 Combination test failure
708 Integer load/store test failure
709 Equivalent expressions errors
710 Interrupt errors
711 Save state errors
712 Protected mode test failure
713 Voltage test failure

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Parallel Printer Adapter Errors:

Code

Description

901 Data register latch error
902 Control register latch error
903 Register address decode error
904 Address decode error
910 Status line wrap connector error
911 Status line bit 8 wrap error
912 Status line bit 7 wrap error
913 Status line bit 6 wrap error
914 Status line bit 5 wrap error
915 Status line bit 4 wrap error
916 Printer adapter interrupt wrap error
917 Unexpected printer adapter interrupt
92x Feature register error

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Alternate Printer Adapter Errors:

Code

Description

1001 Printer adapter data register latch error
1002 Printer adapter control register latch error
1003 Printer adapter register address decode error
1004 Printer adapter address decode error
1010 Status line wrap connector error
1011 Status line bit 8 wrap error
1012 Status line bit 7 wrap error
1013 Status line bit 6 wrap error
1014 Status line bit 5 wrap error
1015 Status line bit 4 wrap error
1016 Printer adapter interrupt wrap error
1017 Unexpected printer adapter interrupt
102x Feature register error

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Primary Async Communications Errors:

Code

Description

1101 16450/16550 chip error; serial port A error
1102 Card selected feedback error; PC convertible internal modem test failed
1103 Port 102h register test failure; PC convertible internal modem dial tone test 1 failed
1104 PC convertible internal modem dial tine test 2 failed
1106 Serial option cannot be put to sleep
1107 Cable error
1108 Interrupt request (IRQ) 3 error
1109 Interrupt request (IRQ) 4 error
1110 16450/16550 chip register failure
1111 Internal wrap test of 16450/16550 chip modem control line failure
1112 External wrap test of 16450/16550 chip modem control line failure
1113 16450/16550 chip transmit error
1114 16450/16550 chip receive error
1115 16450/16550 chip receive error; data not equal to transmit data
1116 16450/16550 chip interrupt function error
1117 16450/16550 chip baud rate test failure
1118 16450/16550 chip receive external data wrap test failure
1119 16550 chip first-in/first-out (FIFO) buffer failure
1120 Interrupt enable register error; all bits cannot be set
1121 Interrupt enable register error; all bits cannot be reset
1122 Interrupt pending; stuck on
1123 Interrupt ID register; stuck on
1124 Modem cannot register error; all bits cannot be set
1125 Modem cannot register error; all bits cannot be reset
1126 Modem status register error; all bits cannot be set
1127 Modem status register error; all bits cannot be reset
1128 Interrupt ID error
1129 Cannot force overrun error
1130 No modem status interrupt
1131 Invalid interrupt pending
1132 No data ready
1133 No data available interrupt
1134 No transmit holding interrupt
1135 No interrupts
1136 No received line status interrupt
1137 No receive data available
1138 Transmit holding register not empty
1139 No modem status interrupt
1140 Transmit holding register not empty
1141 No interrupts
1142 No interrupt 4
1143 No interrupt 3
1144 No data transferred
1145 Maximum baud rate error
1146 Minimum baud rate error
1148 Time out error
1149 Invalid data returned
1150 Modem status register error
1151 No data set ready and delta data set ready
1152 No data set ready
1153 No delta data set ready
1154 Modem status register not clear
1155 No clear to send and delta clear to send
1156 No clear to send
1157 No delta clear to send

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Alternate Async Communications Errors:

Code

Description

1201 16450/16550 chip error
1202 Card selected feedback error
1203 Port 02h register test failure
1206 Serial option cannot be put to sleep
1207 Cable error
1208 Interrupt request (IRQ) 3 error
1209 Interrupt request (IRQ) 4 error
1210 16450/16550 chip register failure
1211 Internal wrap test of 16450/16550 chip modem control line failure
1212 External wrap test of 16450/16550 chip modem control line failure
1213 16450/16550 chip transmit error
1214 16450/16550 chip receive error
1215 16450/16550 chip receive error; data not equal to transmit data
1216 16450/16550 chip interrupt function error
1217 16450/16550 chip baud rate test failure
1218 16450/16550 chip receive external data wrap test failure
1219 16550 chip first-in/first-out (FIFO) buffer failure
1220 Interrupt enable register error; all bits cannot be set
1221 Interrupt enable register error; all bits cannot be reset
1222 Interrupt pending; stuck on
1223 Interrupt ID register; stuck on
1224 Modem cannot register error; all bits cannot be set
1225 Modem cannot register error; all bits cannot be reset
1226 Modem status register error; all bits cannot be set
1227 Modem status register error; all bits cannot be reset
1228 Interrupt ID error
1229 Cannot force overrun error
1230 No modem status interrupt
1231 Invalid interrupt pending
1232 No data ready
1233 No data available interrupt
1234 No transmit holding interrupt
1235 No interrupts
1236 No received line status interrupt
1237 No receive data available
1238 Transmit holding register not empty
1239 No modem status interrupt
1240 Transmit holding register not empty
1241 No interrupts
1242 No interrupt 4
1243 No interrupt 3
1244 No data transferred
1245 Maximum baud rate error
1246 Minimum baud rate error
1248 Time out error
1249 Invalid data returned
1250 Modem status register error
1251 No data set ready and delta data set ready
1252 No data set ready
1253 No delta data set ready
1254 Modem status register not clear
1255 No clear to send and delta clear to send
1256 No clear to send
1257 No delta clear to send

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Game Control Adapter Errors:

Code

Description

1301 Game control adapter test failure
1302 Joystick test failure

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Matrix Printer Errors:

Code

Description

1401 Printer test failure
1402 Printer not ready, not on line, or out of paper
1403 Printer no paper error
1404 Matrix printer test failure; system board time out
1405 Parallel adapter failure
1406 Printer presence test failed

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Synchronous Data Link Control Communications (SDLC) Adapter Errors:

Code

Description

1501 SDLC adapter test failure
1510 8255 port B failure
1511 8255 port A failure
1512 8255 port C failure
1513 8253 timer #1 did not reach terminal count
1514 8253 timer #1 stuck on
1515 8253 timer #0 did not reach terminal count
1516 8253 timer #0 stuck on
1517 8253 timer #2 did not reach terminal count
1518 8253 timer #2 stuck on
1519 8273 port B error
1520 8273 port A error
1521 8273 command/read time out
1522 Interrupt level 4 failure
1523 Ring indicate stuck on
1524 Receive clock stuck on
1525 Transmit clock stuck on
1526 Test indicate stuck on
1527 Ring indicate stuck on
1528 Receive clock stuck on
1529 Transmit clock stuck on
1530 Test indicate not on
1531 Data set ready not on
1532 Carrier detect not on
1533 Clear to send not on
1534 Data set ready stuck on
1535 Carrier detect stuck on
1536 Clear to send stuck on
1537 Interrupt level 3 failure
1538 Receive interrupt results error
1539 Wrap data compare error
1540 Direct memory access channel 1 error
1541 Direct memory access channel 1 error
1542 8273 error checking or status reporting error
1547 Stray interrupt level 4
1548 Stray interrupt level 3
1549 Interrupt presentation sequence time out

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Display Station Emulation Adapter (DSEA) Errors:

Code

Description

1604 DSEA or twinaxial network error
1608 DSEA or twinaxial network error
1624 DSEA error
1634 DSEA error
1644 DSEA error
1652 DSEA error
1654 DSEA error
1658 DSEA error
1662 DSEA interrupt level error
1664 DSEA error
1668 DSEA interrupt level error
1669 DSEA diagnostics error; use 3.0 or higher
1674 DSEA diagnostics error; use 3.0 or higher; DSEA station address error
1684 DSEA device address error
1688 DSEA device address error

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Hard Drive and Controller Errors:

Code

Description

1701 Fixed disk or adapter general error
1702 Drive and controller time out error
1703 Drive seek error
1704 Drive controller failed
1705 Drive sector not found error
1706 Write fault error
1707 Drive track 00 error
1708 Head select error
1709 Bad ECC returned
1710 Sector buffer overrun
1711 Bad address mark
1712 Internal controller diagnostics failure
1713 Data compare error
1714 Drive not ready
1715 Track 00 indicator error
1716 Diagnostics cylinder errors
1717 Surface read errors
1718 Hard drive error
1720 Bad diagnostics cylinder
1726 Data compare error
1730 Drive controller error
1731 Drive controller error
1732 Drive controller error
1733 BIOS undefined error return
1735 Bad command error
1736 Data corrected error
1737 Bad drive track error
1738 Bad sector error
1739 Bad initialization error
1740 Bad sense error
1750 Drive verify error
1751 Drive read error
1752 Drive write error
1753 Drive random read test failure
1754 Drive seek test failure
1755 Drive controller failure
1756 Controller ECC test failure
1757 Controller head select failure
1780 Drive seek failure (drive 0)
1781 Drive seek failure (drive 1)
1782 Hard disk controller failure
1790 Diagnostic cylinder read error (drive 0)
1791 Diagnostic cylinder read error (drive 1)

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I/O Expansion Unit Errors:

Code

Description

1801 Expansion unit POST error
1810 Enable/Disable failure
1811 Extender card wrap test failure while disabled
1812 High order address lines failure while disabled
1813 Wait state failure while disabled
1814 Enable/disable could not be set on
1815 Wait state failure while enabled
1816 Extender card wrap test failure while enabled
1817 High order address lines failure while enabled
1818 Disable not functioning
1819 Wait request switch not set correctly
1820 Receiver card wrap test failed
1821 Receiver high order address lines failure

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Binary Synchronous Communications (BSC) Adapter Errors:

Code

Description

2001 BSC adapter test failure
2010 8255 port A failure
2011 8255 port B failure
2012 8255 port C failure
2013 8253 timer #1 did not reach terminal count
2014 8253 timer #1 stuck on
2015 8253 timer #2 did not reach terminal count
2016 8253 timer #2 stuck on
2017 8251 data set ready failed to come on
2018 8251 clear to send not sensed
2019 8251 data set ready stuck on
2020 8151 clear to send stuck on
2021 8151 hardware reset failure
2022 8251 software reset failure
2023 8251 software "error reset" failure
2024 8251 transmit ready did not come on
2025 8251 receive ready did not come on
2026 8251 could not force "overrun" error status
2027 Interrupt failure; no timer interrupt
2028 Interrupt failure; transmit; replace card or planar
2029 Interrupt failure; transmit; replace card
2030 Interrupt failure; receive; replace card or planar
2031 Interrupt failure; receive; replace card
2033 Ring indicate stuck on
2034 Receive clock stuck on
2035 transmit clock stuck on
2036 Test indicate stuck on
2037 Ring indicate stuck on
2038 Receive clock not on
2039 Transmit clock not on
2040 Test indicate not on
2041 Data set ready not on
2042 Carrier detect not on
2043 Clear to send not on
2044 Data set ready stuck on
2045 Carrier detect stuck on
2046 Clear to send stuck on
2047 Unexpected transmit interrupt
2048 Unexpected receive interrupt
2050 8251 detected overrun error
2051 Lost data set ready during data wrap
2052 Receive time out during data wrap

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Alternate Binary Synchronous Communications (BSC) Adapter Errors:

Code

Description

2101 BSC adapter test failure
2110 8255 port A failure
2111 8255 port B failure
2112 8255 port C failure
2113 8253 timer #1 did not reach terminal count
2114 8253 timer #1 stuck on
2115 8253 timer #2 did not reach terminal count
2116 8253 timer #2 stuck on
2117 8251 data set ready failed to come on
2118 8251 clear to send not sensed
2119 8251 data set ready stuck on
2120 8151 clear to send stuck on
2121 8151 hardware reset failure
2122 8251 software reset failure
2123 8251 software "error reset" failure
2124 8251 transmit ready did not come on
2125 8251 receive ready did not come on
2126 8251 could not force "overrun" error status
2127 Interrupt failure; no timer interrupt
2128 Interrupt failure; transmit; replace card or planar
2129 Interrupt failure; transmit; replace card
2130 Interrupt failure; receive; replace card or planar
2131 Interrupt failure; receive; replace card
2133 Ring indicate stuck on
2134 Receive clock stuck on
2135 transmit clock stuck on
21