Is your computer making three consecutive beeps upon start-up? That your computer is making these sounds may be out of the ordinary for a regular user but they’re part of the operating system and they’re used as indications.
By beeping a set number of times, the computer can basically tell the user (or the technician) what’s wrong. It’s an error code of sorts.
So, what does it mean when your computer beeps 3 times?
If your computer only makes three consecutive beeps during start-up then stops, it’s an indication that the BIOS was restored successfully. If the computer repeats the same three beeps after a short pause, it’s indicating that there is a problem with the system memory. The computer will shut down after beeping if something is malfunctioning.
However, this is only true if the sounds are produced just as you start the computer. When you’re in Windows, the same thing may not be true as there’s a bunch of different software that makes beeps.
The beeps we’re looking for should appear when you power on the computer. They’re made as the operating system starts up.
But if you’re entirely sure that the sounds you’re experiencing are the ones we’re talking about, continue reading as we’ll talk about how you can fix it.
How Do You Fix a Computer That’s Making Three Beeps?
Depending on the kind of beeps the computer is making, there are different things to take into consideration. The characteristics of the beeps will indicate if it’s the BIOS or the RAM.
If your computer is making three beeps, the first thing you should do is remove any extra added RAM from its slots on the motherboard then power up the computer to see if it starts normally.
If the computer starts without issue, clean the sockets on the motherboard and reinsert the RAM. If the re-inserted memory causes the beeps to reappear your best bet is to replace it.
Computer Beeps 3 Times and Monitor Doesn’t Display Anything
If you’re experiencing a computer that’s producing three beeps upon start-up then leaving you with a black monitor or not starting, here’s what I recommend you do. The first step of the troubleshooting is the same as before – but there’s more to it.
- Start by removing the RAM and clean the modules where the RAM is placed properly. If possible, try the RAM in a separate computer to see if it works or if the issue persists there too. Once the slot on the motherboard has been cleaned, place the memory back in its slot and try starting the computer.
If that doesn’t work – proceed.
- Remove your video card and try resetting your BIOS settings.
- Turn off your computer and remove the power source
- Open up the computer cabinet and remove the CMOS battery for about 20 minutes
- Place the CMOS battery back in its slot and reconnect the power source
- Start the computer
These steps can be helpful regardless of how the beeps are affecting the surrounding equipment.
Computer Beeps 3 Times at Logon / Logoff
If a computer is making beeps when you log on or log off, those beeps are oftentimes produced by software within Windows, and will therefore be broadcasted through the computer’s speakers, while beeps that indicate hardware failure are coming out of the motherboard.
These beeps are not equal to the ones coming from the motherboard upon start-up. The issue is probably caused by drivers or the applications that are installed on the computer.
The first thing question I want to ask you is: Does your organization or company use Smart Cards in your systems? If you’re using smart cards to sign in to your computer, the computer is most likely making the sounds to alert the user that the computer has logged off, locked the screen, or turned off the computer while the smart card is still in the system.
It’s making these sounds to remind you of your smart card. Most reports regarding this issue are older and associated with Windows 7 clients.
But seeing as there are still a bunch of people using Windows 7, I think it’s suitable to include the information. From what I’ve been able to gather online, administrators have been able to find a workaround.
“YES! This was it! I looked through the administrative templates and found the setting under:
Administrative Templates>ActivIdententity>ActivClient>Notifications Management
In there, set Unattended Smart Card Alert to Enabled and the options to Never. NO MORE BEEPING!”
But let’s say you’re getting the same beeps without using a smart card, then there’s something else that’s going on.
Start the computer in Safe Mode to see if the issue remains. To start the computer in Safe Mode – do the following:
- Restart/Start your computer
- Press and hold F8 before the Windows logo has appeared on the screen
- Using the arrow keys, maneuver to the “Safe Mode” option and hit Enter
You’re now starting the computer in Safe Mode – this should cause the computer to surpass issues associated with software.
Computer Makes Three Beeps When Locking Screen
If your computer is making three beeps upon locking the screen, and the beeps are produced by Windows and coming out of the speaker, then you can try the method listed above that we used to look at the beeps the computer makes as you log in and log off. These two issues are somewhat related.
If you’re using a Smart Card, please go back to the previous section of the article to find out what to do.
Otherwise, start the computer in Safe Mode using the instructions above.
What 3 Beeps Mean for Different Brands of Computers / Motherboards
Seeing as the manufacturers program the motherboard and its codes, they’re a little bit different depending on the brand of your motherboard/computer. Let’s take a look at the most popular brands and the significance of their 3-beep-error code.
What Does 3 Beeps Mean on an MSI Motherboard?
Generally speaking, an MSI motherboard that makes 3 beeps is indicating that there’s something wrong with the RAM.
What Does 3 Beeps mean on a Dell Computer?
According to Dell, if a desktop computer or laptop is making three beeps it’s indicating that there’s a possible motherboard failure/chipset error.
What Does 3 Beeps Mean on a HP Computer?
According to HP’s support site, three beeps on an HP computer indicates that the computer is unable to start flashing (when missing a utility or BIOS image)
What Does 3 Beeps Mean on a Lenovo Computer?
For most Lenovo models, 3 beeps will indicate that the RAM is either incompatible or defective.
What Does 3 Beeps Mean on an Acer Computer?
Two sets of three beeps accompanied by a single beep indicates that the CMOS battery or CMOS ram is defective. This can be fixed by replacing the CMOS battery.
What Is RAM Memory and What is it Used For?
Ram is short for Random Access Memory, which can be described as the computer’s equivalent of our short-term memory. It’s an important component that’s considered a pillar of computing.
The RAM is the storage that the computer dedicates for the task that it’s executing right now, or in the next few seconds.
Hence why it’s described as the computer’s short-term memory. It stores things temporarily, during the time the data is being used. The hard drive, on the other hand, is the computer’s long-term memory, as it stores data for