220-802 · Question #214
A customer is concerned about a computer that repeatedly beeps when attempting to power on. Which of the following is MOST likely the cause?
The correct answer is C. RAM not seated properly. Repeated beep codes during POST (Power-On Self-Test) most commonly indicate a memory (RAM) failure, typically caused by RAM that is not properly seated in its slot.
Question
A customer is concerned about a computer that repeatedly beeps when attempting to power on. Which of the following is MOST likely the cause?
Options
- ANetwork cable is unplugged
- BUSB 2.0 is plugged into USB 1.1 port
- CRAM not seated properly
- DOptical media was left in the drive
How the community answered
(53 responses)- A4% (2)
- B2% (1)
- C89% (47)
- D6% (3)
Why each option
Repeated beep codes during POST (Power-On Self-Test) most commonly indicate a memory (RAM) failure, typically caused by RAM that is not properly seated in its slot.
An unplugged network cable does not cause POST beep codes; the system will boot normally and the OS or network stack will report the missing connection after startup.
Plugging a USB 2.0 device into a USB 1.1 port may result in reduced speed or a compatibility warning, but will not cause POST beep codes preventing the system from booting.
During POST, the BIOS runs hardware diagnostics and uses beep codes to signal errors when it cannot display them visually. RAM errors are among the most common POST failures and produce repeated or patterned beep sequences because memory is one of the first components tested. If RAM is not firmly seated in its slot, the BIOS cannot detect or initialize it, triggering the beep code alarm. Reseating the RAM module is the standard first corrective action for this symptom.
Optical media left in a drive may cause the system to attempt booting from it or prompt a boot order message, but does not generate hardware POST beep codes.
Concept tested: POST beep codes indicating unseated RAM
Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/bringup/boot-and-uefi
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