Computer Problems

[sAsLEX]

instead of the normal short posting beep on turning on my comp I am getting a 2 sec long beep followed by a four second silence that repeats!

This happened monday and clearing the cmos fixed it that time!

But alas it is happening again, K14 suggested a loose vid card so took that out and reinserted, didnt help. LEc at uni has said the beeps indicate hardware such as loose mem so will look at that when I get home, he also mentioned that the sequence of the beeps could indicate whats at fault but I cant seem to find out where to interpret the beeps on the net ( Abit NF7 MB)

Any other ideas out there from the IT crowd, as I really need the thing for uni as it sucks balls being locked in at uni at night and having to stay over in teh labs!

[WRT]

Maybe this will help?


Beep Codes for ABIT AWARD BIOS Motherboards

1. No beep at all - this means your motherboard is dead, either due to a defective or underpowered power supply, poorly seated CPU or RAM, or a dead-on-arrival board
2. One Beep - board is working fine
3. One long Beep then machine shuts down - faulty, improperly installed or missing CPU
4. 1 short (Beep) System booting is normally
5. 2 short (Beep) CMOS setting error
6. 1 long - 1 short (Beep) DRAM ERROR
7. 1 long - 2 short(Beep) Display card or monitor connected error
8. 1 long - 3 short(Beep) Keyboard Error
9. 1 long - 9 short(Beep) ROM Error
10. Long(Beep) continuous DRAM isn't inserted correctly
11. Short(Beep) continuous POWER supply has a problem
12. A two-tone siren, generally caused by overheating or out of specification voltages

Four beeps then machine shuts down. This is because this version of the BIOS will shut down your machine if no fan tachometer signal is detected on the fan header. Make sure you attach a fan to the FAN1 or FAN4 header or clear CMOS to reset to default (no checking).

[sAsLEX]

Sounds like a DRAM not inserted thing, does not shut down after four I am fairly certain.


After talking to some others here at uni they have had issues with their RAM having lifted tracks on the connector so that may be the problem so will check that out, they fixed by colouring in the missing track with pencil

[crashe]

Turn your comp off completely.... and at back of computer box.

take out your RAMs of memory and give them a wee wipe... and blow all the dust out of there.. re insert the RAMs and away you go again.......

[skelstar]

Id recommend the blowing of dust, but wiping them could damage them static-wise couldnt it?

[WRT]

Pencil eraser is good for cleaning the contacts, wouldnt recommend wiping with a cloth tho!

[SwanTiger]

Wipe said RAM across a well used piece of carpet for maximum effect.

[sAsLEX]

Wipe said RAM across a well used piece of carpet for maximum effect.

yeah nice one


its is pretty dusty in there so maybe a cleaning with some contact cleaner could be good!

[k14]

Yeah could be a bit of crap got in the socket for the ram. Also try taking out and re seating all the pci cards. Clean out all the dust etc and hopefully you'll be away.

Iirc I think you only have 1 stick of ram in that pc. If reseating the ram doesnt work first try seating it in another slot. If that doesnt work see if you can borrow another stick off someone to test if thats the problem or not.

[sAsLEX]

Yeah could be a bit of crap got in the socket for the ram. Also try taking out and re seating all the pci cards. Clean out all the dust etc and hopefully you'll be away.

Iirc I think you only have 1 stick of ram in that pc. If reseating the ram doesnt work first try seating it in another slot. If that doesnt work see if you can borrow another stick off someone to test if thats the problem or not.

yeah only one stick of not too much so if it doesnt work and a borrowed stick fixes it might be time to get a bit more!


might take the tv card out for the time being since BF2 has made that useless nowdays!

[nodrog:Me]

have you tryed kicking it?

[sAsLEX]

have you tryed kicking it?

yes, flatmate reckoned shaking was often a better fix!

[nodrog:Me]

yes, flatmate reckoned shaking was often a better fix!

oh well, sounds like its beyond repair then, burn it! lol

[Lias]

I spent like half an hour typing up a reply to this post and I'd swear I submitted it but I think I musta previewed then blonde momented cos it aint sodding here.. DOH!

Short recap:

Wiping BAD!!!

1 long beep is most likely RAM, but check what make and version bios you have and google.. IE "Ami bios 6 post codes" or "Phoenix bios 3 post codes"
Make sure you are earthed before you pull the DIMM's out.
Dust the DIMM's and the sockets with air (compressed if ya can, or blow on it yourself)
If its REALLY dusty, clean them with a brand new soft bristled brush (never ever use a brush thats been in paint/solvent/etc)
Reseat the DIMM's firmly, but make sure you have them aligned the correct way.
If you really need to clean the contacts, use proper electrical contact cleaner, but you rarely have any need to clean the contacts on a stick of ram.

[The_Dover]

I think that's the too much porn beep alex.

Finn was having that issue too and as soon as I deleted his collection of Bald Swedish Midgets Fucking Farmyard Animals (the collectors edition!) all was good.