1024: Error Code

Error Code

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Title text: It has a section on motherboard beep codes that lists, for each beep pattern, a song that syncs up well with it.

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Explanation

An error code is a code (usually numeric) that is shown when an error has occurred with a computer program or hardware, which can identify enough of the issue encountered in order to correct or avoid the problem. Perhaps the most famous error code is 404: Not Found, when a web browser fails to provide a resource, despite being able to connect to a web server.

The Cueball at the computer gets the error code of -41 but cannot even tell what program it comes from, so the other Cueball decides to look the code up in a seemingly all-encompassing reference book titled Error Codes. Usually, resources like this give a user instructions on how to resolve the computer problem but, instead, the book bizarrely directs them to sit by a lake. This may alleviate some of their frustration about the error, as sitting by a lake can be very relaxing. However, it seems unlikely to directly or indirectly resolve the original problem.

The panel with the image of the lake is fairly rare as far as xkcd comics go, in that it is drawn in a more realistic style. The lake is shown to have many lily pads, which might be because of their use in a puzzle about exponential growth; it aligns with the comic number (1024), which is a power of two, potentially referring to the lily pads doubling every day in the puzzle.

The mention of beep codes in the title text refers to the error codes produced by motherboards. Because the motherboard is sort of the "heart" of the computer, the designers cannot rely on any form of error display that might be compromised by the error itself (such as a visual display). Instead, motherboards typically have a code consisting of beeps from the system "PC" speaker, which is expected to work without further error in most situations, as it's wired directly to the motherboard. In a sort of Morse code-type system, certain lengths, tones and numbers of beeps refer to different errors like memory problems, video card problems, etc. The one quick beep that occurs on boot sequences is the POST (Power On Self-Test) beep, which detects vital parts of the system, like motherboard, memory, monitor, etc. The beep indicates that everything necessary to boot is present. Anyone who has built a few computers is probably familiar with less happy beep sequences. However, the manual they have for these is equally unhelpful in interpreting them as the Error Codes one was. Instead of telling them what they mean, it again attempts to distract them from the problem by encouraging them to play music that will fit in well with the beeping.

Transcript

[A guy sits at a computer, while a friend takes a book off a shelf behind him.]

Computer guy: "Error -41"? That's helpful. It doesn't even say which program it's from!

Friend: -41? I'll look it up...

[In a frame-less panel, the friend looks at the book.]

Friend: It says -41 is: "Sit by a lake."

[The two walk.]

[The two sit down.]

[A large, in-color painting of a lake with pond lilies.]

[The two are still sitting.]

Computer guy: I don't know where you got that book, but I like it.

Friend: Hasn't been wrong yet.

Trivia

It is possible Randall wanted comic number 1024 to be about computers because 1024 is a significant number in computer systems: it is exactly 2¹⁰, and as such is sometimes used instead of 1000 as the power constant for file sizes for the sake of easier binary arithmetic. This was referenced in 1000: 1000 Comics.

A book suggesting a more or less unrelated solution which is accepted anyway is also pulled from a shelf in 330.

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Discussion

The joke is probably that "sit by a lake" is the name of the tune corresponding with motherboard error -41

Motherboard error codes are not numbered like other error codes are. Motherboard error codes are just referred to by how the beeps sound (ex. 1 long, 2 short) Luke1042

Long, long, short, long would mean it's approaching a crossing. 173.245.50.174 09:46, 7 September 2015 (UTC)

I think my mother board is sending me a message in morse code... RG (talk) 01:58, 15 May 2026 (UTC)

Personally, of all motherboard beeping codes, I always liked "No beep = Power supply, system board problem, disconnected CPU, or disconnected speaker...." (Well, when not suffering it myself. And even then I could stand it when it was just the latter and thus of no immediate consequence...) 31.111.103.76 22:04, 2 April 2013 (UTC)

Well then, laptop computers dont beep at all, I guess that must mean that something is always missing --108.162.250.111 03:03, 26 November 2013 (UTC)

Yes. You are missing a Desktop. 108.162.216.60 20:49, 14 May 2014 (UTC)BK201

This is one of my favourite xkcd comics, it makes me take a long breath and just chill out a bit. Probably the only comic that could be described as 'relaxing' 77.103.5.201 20:13, 5 May 2013 (UTC)

Unfortunately the beep codes thing is archaic. Most new computers built since the early to mid-2000s haven't made a beep - instead, the trend has been to rely on visual codes from built-in LEDs (and, later on, from pairs of eight-segment displays relaying hex codes). So a modern code will run from 00 to FF - but it will also be completely silent. 141.101.81.216 11:47, 25 February 2014 (UTC)

Every computer ever booted in my presence, some before many during and a few shortly after stated time period as well as several brand new this year, has beeped at the end of the POST, with one exception. That one would have beeped, but it's PC speaker was removed because it annoyed the owner. So I don't think hex code error indicators have quite made beepcodes "archaic".--guest 08:46, 15 June 2014 (UTC)

I built my own computer about a year ago, with a motherboard that was quite modern. It definitely uses beep codes. 199.27.133.107 04:34, 22 October 2014 (UTC)

The guy at the computer is Cueball, isn't he? So Cuball and friend is the common way here. If not, the the category Category:Comics featuring Cueball has also to be removed. But I don't see that. --Dgbrt (talk) 20:02, 23 April 2014 (UTC)

Anyone got any idea what the yellow things in the lake are? They look like they should be significant? 141.101.104.94 05:48, 15 July 2014 (UTC)

Those are lily pad flowers. Before they bloom they look like small balls, and some are yellow[1]. 199.27.130.216 (talk) (please sign your comments with ~~~~)

The guy at the computer should say at the first panel "That's UNhelpful" instead of "That's helpful", shouldn't he? Or maybe I don't know something in english? 108.162.254.185 09:35, 7 June 2014 (UTC)

It's called a sarcastic comment, though it's technically irony. It's very common for english speaking people to say "well, that's helpful" when the intended understanding is exactly the opposite.--guest 08:41, 15 June 2014 (UTC)

Did... did anyone ever make this book? Somebody should get on that.--108.162.237.192 21:34, 20 November 2014 (UTC)

The guy has a lot of these books. http://xkcd.com/330/ 108.162.210.241 00:49, 29 December 2014 (UTC)

What do they say about code 34? I used Google News BEFORE it was clickbait (talk) 23:29, 21 January 2015 (UTC)

Let's see... I think that means "you get a free sample of brain bleach". 173.245.54.166 19:02, 3 April 2015 (UTC)

404 is a response code, not an error code 162.158.34.46 14:31, 5 September 2019 (UTC)

Yes, HTTP 404 is an HTTP response code, but one that specifically represents an error condition...so HTTP 404 is indeed an error code (as opposed to, say, a success code). — Yfmcpxpj (talk) 19:30, 13 September 2020 (UTC)

The choice of -41 is interesting, because at least on Linux x86_64, there is no error 41 in the standard error codes (errno -ls). Instead, between ELOOP 40 Too many levels of symbolic links and ENOMSG 42 No message of desired type is EWOULDBLOCK 11 Resource temporarily unavailable (11 is the same code as EAGAIN). Seems likely that Randall deliberately picked an error code that doesn't exist. 172.69.79.209 02:58, 23 March 2022 (UTC)

I'm fairly sure that's just a coincidence. Besides, it's negative 41 (or dash 41). 2804:DA4:207:7700:5DF5:1047:C56A:3A63 19:08, 17 August 2025 (UTC)
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