Microsoft KB Archive/76922

= ROM and RAM Error Codes Explained =

Article ID: 76922

Article Last Modified on 11/21/1999

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q76922



SUMMARY
In the event that a RAM or ROM chip fails, a multidigit error code will be displayed. The error code is displayed only briefly, then replaced by the message

PARITY CHECK x

where if x=1, the problem is on the system board or is power supply problem, and if x=2, the problem is on one of the memory expansion adapters.

The multidigit error codes can be used to determine where the chip error occurred.



ROM Error Codes
During power-on-self-test (POST), a failed ROM chip will display an error code in the following format   xx00 ROM -or-   xx000 ROM where xx is the hexadecimal address of the failed ROM.

Not all problems can be identified by an error code, because some problems will prevent the computer from booting at all.

The following table shows some of the possible error codes and what they mean: Error Code   Computer     Location of Faulty ROM --        --

C800 ROM      All         Hard disk drive adapter CC00 ROM      PC,XT       PC network IO ROM CC00   XT 286,AT   PC network F600 ROM      PC          U29 F800 ROM      PC          U30 FA00 ROM      PC          U31 FC00 ROM      PC          U32 Fxxx ROM      PC          System board ROM Error     all         System board IO ROM xxxxxx XT 286, AT  Power related

RAM Error Codes
When the last three numbers of an error code are 201, it indicates an error in the RAM area. The numbers preceding 201 are the code that identifies the specific chip. Error code formats appear as follows: Computer         Error Code Format - PC               xxx 201 XT               xxxxx xx 201 AT and PS/2      xxxxxx xxxx 201 Note: x represents hexadecimal characters.

The first one or two characters indicate the bank or expansion adapter, and the two to four characters preceding 201 represent the specific chip that failed.

If a chip has failed in one of the first few memory banks, the error code may disappear very quickly. Ensure that the display is warmed-up sufficiently to show the error code.

For more information, query on the following words:

parity error and meaning and message

parity check and error and description

