Introduction
The BIOS performs a power-on self-test when the system is turned on. This test is used to ensure that the system is functioning properly and to gather information about what the system contains. When a problem is identified with the system during the POST, the BIOS will normally produce an error message. However, in some cases the problem is detected so early in the test that the BIOS cannot access the video card to print the message. In this case the BIOS will produce a beeping pattern on the speaker to tell you what the problem is. The exact meaning of the beep codes depends on the type and version of BIOS that you have. The most popular types of BIOS are those made by Award American Megatrends (AMI) and Phoenix.
AMI 6 Beeps: Keyboard controller / gate A20 failure
The keyboard controller is a chip on the motherboard that communicates with your keyboard. It also controls the A20 gate that provides access to the high memory area (HMA). This component is indicating a failure. This is a problem with either the keyboard or the motherboard.
Phoenix 1-3-4-1 Test 512 base address lines.
Sometimes a memory stick can become loose causing the computer to be unable to read the memory or get errors as it's reading it. Try fixing this issue by opening the computer removing each of the memory sticks you have in the computer and then placing them back into the slots, reset the memory and restart the computer. If this doesn’t work replace the memory.
Basic Security
Hardware
Network address translation: Every system on the Internet needs an IP address--like a phone number for computers--which is used to forge links with other systems across the network. NAT foils unauthorized connections by giving PCs behind the firewall a set of private addresses, while presenting to the world a single, public address. This switch makes it difficult for others to reach through the firewall to an individual PC.
Port management: By default, most hardware firewalls close unsolicited access to all ports (like doors in a hallway) on your connected PC. So if a piece of software locks onto your IP address and tries to form a connection with TCP port 80 (used for Web connections) or TCP port 25 (used for outbound e-mail), the firewall would ignore the request. As far as the inquiring software can tell, there is simply nothing there. By the same token, firewalls can let you open specific ports (an action known as port forwarding), so a multiplayer game can link up with other systems across the Internet or a Web camera can send a video stream to view on the Internet.

Stateful packet inspection: SPI digs deep into the packets used to encapsulate data traveling the network. A firewall can do more than simply prohibit packets from a specific source and take action based on the content or behavior of packets. For instance, an SPI firewall can tell if an incoming packet was unsolicited (and therefore, unwanted) or if it arrived in response to a request from the local network (in which case it would be allowed through).
Virtual private networking: A method for establishing encrypted, point-to-point connections across the Internet, VPNs are widely used among businesses for giving remote employees access to local networks. The problem is, a good firewall will block the encrypted connection between the remote device and the local VPN software. Firewalls with VPN support can pass through these encrypted links.
Activity logging and alerts: One area where hardware firewalls can vary greatly is in their ability to track, record, and report the activity fielded by the device.
Content and URL filtering: Firewalls can also offer higher level features for instance, blocking access to URLs with a specified string of letters in their URL or to any sites that fall outside of a list of accepted Web domain names.
Software
Firewall Features The best firewall for Windows will protect against incoming threats and be able to block outgoing threats from malware that has successfully infiltrated your system. A good firewall will know when it is under attack because it will constantly scan the computer's ports to detect threats. A firewall applies rules to the packets it sees in order to enforce polices. It knows when to allow or reject traffic. When it detects illegal traffic, it applies filters so that only traffic that it defines as legal makes it through.
Additional Security Some firewalls are just firewalls. However, most personal firewall software is one module inside of a larger security software bundle. Neither approach is better. If you prefer the idea of security software that does more than simply provide a firewall, then look at the products in our review that also block and remove malware and spyware. You might also consider whether you want protection against phishing attacks, and you might even extend your interest to those products in our review that provide parental controls, password managers, file shredders and virtual keyboards. However, with such additional security features, you are well beyond the purview of a firewall.
Help & Support There is a large range of how software publishers provide help and support. There are firewall software publishers that support you by email only, and there is nothing wrong with that if you are comfortable with such a limit. However, some companies make themselves available 24/7 by telephone or online chat.

References
Desmond, M. (2004, November 25). PC World. Retrieved from http://www.pcworld.com/article/117557/article.html
Hurt, B. (2015). BIOS Central. Retrieved from http://www.bioscentral.com/beepcodes/phoenixbeep.htm
Reynolds, P. (n.d.). Top 10 Reviews. Retrieved from http://personal-firewall-software-review.toptenreviews.com/