What is a Computer Error Code?
Posted by FixErrors on May 8th, 2009You’ve likely encountered a number of different computer error codes during your time as a PC user. The most obvious is the STOP CODE that is displayed on a blue screen of death (BSOD), but there are also audible error codes that are designed to alert you of problems and help you identify them.
What is a STOP Code?
A stop code is an alphanumeric string that is displayed on a BSOD. It will almost always look like ‘0×00000024’ (or something similar). The variation in the numbers at the end is the important value on this type of computer error code. The most common stop codes are:
• 0×0000000A or IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL – This fault is typically due to incompatible hardware or software.
• 0×0000001E or KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED – This fault is typically due to an illegal/unknown processor instruction detected by the kernel.
• 0×00000024 or NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM – This fault means that an error occurred with NTFS.SYS, a driver file that enables the computer to read/write on NTFS drives.
• 0×0000007B or INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE – This fault means that Windows has lost the ability to access the system partition or boot volume during startup.
Audible Computer Error Codes
Audible computer error codes are a carry-over from the days when IBM ruled the show for PC’s. The error codes have been built into the BIOS and are pretty much standard across all motherboard manufacturers. The audible computer error codes are broadcast via the PC speaker (that annoying speaker inside your tower that beeps from time to time).
| Beep Code | Problem Description |
| No beeps | No power, bad CPU/MB, loose peripherals |
| One beep | Everything is normal |
| Two beeps | POST/CMOS error |
| One long beep, one short beep | Motherboard problem |
| One long beep, two short beeps | Video problem |
| One long beep, three short beeps | Video problem |
| Three long beeps | Keyboard error |
| Repeated long beeps | Memory error |
| Continuous Hi-Lo beeps | CPU overheating |
Each Code Has a Solution
If you are “fortunate” enough to see/hear a computer error code, don’t despair, as the error code itself is the first step in solving the problem. Remember, every now and then a Windows-based PC will just have an error for the sake of having an error. It isn’t until the error becomes habitual that you need to worry about it. If it really stresses you out, well, you could always get a Mac.
Tags: error code, stop error