Hardware Issue - Beep codes

Adam18290 · 1 Mar 2009 at 01:11

So, im trying to fix a pc for a friend, basically when the pc is turned on there is 1 long beep and 2 short beeps with just a blank screen. Ive looked through the net and found out that apparently this points to a GFX issue. Thus I took the gfx card out of the pc, stuck it in my working pc and it works just fine and the monitor comes on. Ive tried a different psu, swapped memory around (got no other modules to test), reset cmos, unplugged unnecessary equip to no avail.

So if the beep codes are correct and there is a gfx issue, could the actualy pci-x slot be faulty or the mobo itself?

Thanks in advance

Adam18290

p.s There is the possibility of putting my own gfx card into the pc, however I would need to use my psu as well due to the current psu being inadequate to power the gfx card, would this be beneficial or is there an off chance it could muck up my own gfx card as well? (fairly decent gfx)

Aod · 1 Mar 2009 at 02:02

beep codes are usually motherboard-manufacturer specific (in my experience)

dtokez · 1 Mar 2009 at 02:55

i dont know but im having a similar problem with an asus board and have been advised on here that it sounds like gfx card issue due to my beep codes which and 1 long followed by 3 short

ChrisLX200 · 1 Mar 2009 at 09:40

You haven't said what model the GFX card is, nor the rest of the computer spec. It helps to know...

It sounds like you've done the right things to test it, getting beep codes suggests at least the computer is able to spot there is a problem, so it's likely to be that rather than BIOS/CPU/RAM etc. Might be memory on the GFX itself, might be the slot (have you tried a different one?). Still might be power if it's a meaty card asking for more power than you've got. You won't damage yours *unless* there's a short in the slot - it's difficult to see but have a look for bent pins inside the slot.

Darkninja462 · 1 Mar 2009 at 09:49

Does it still make the beep if you boot with gfx card out ?

and is there any chance of you gettin hold of just "PCI" gfx card there old but I find they come in mighty use if I suspect the PCIe slot/card going wrong.

Ninja

Adam18290 · 1 Mar 2009 at 11:24

Its an old packard bell pc:

e6300
nvidia 7300
1gb ram
Cuba (MSI MS-7301) Motherboard

Basically the gfx card works in my pc and the monitor comes on. But theres just a black screen when its put back into the original machine. The beep codes are the same even when theres no gfx card in. Obviously I would have tried the onboard VGA if the mobo had one. Ive got no pci gfx cards spare, only spare card I have is an 8800, which I dont fancy putting in the machine lol. I cant see any bent pins in the actual pci-e slot, and the owner has never even opened the case before so I doubt he would have damaged it.
There are the same beep codes when the gfx card is taken out completly. The CPU fans just spins around, along with psu fan but just no black display, it doesnt cut out but just sits there with nothing but a black screen. Ive plugged my headphones in to see if I can hear any windows sounds which I couldn't. One funny thing is, is that when I put a keyboard in I can keep switching caps lock on and off, and when I hit Crtl Alt Del the pc restarts instantly with the same beep codes.

Would the cpu fan turn on if the mobo was dead?

Adam18290 · 1 Mar 2009 at 11:41

ignore

Adam18290 · 1 Mar 2009 at 12:00

Would it be worth it to go down to pc w***d and pick up a cheap pci gcard and a cheap pci-e gcard and see if any of them work, if they do then I shud just be able to take them back to the shop, get my money back and order a card off from ocuk....

By the way the fan increases and decreases in speed it sounds like a normal boot up, but just with a black screen in the background. When I put the hard drive in my own pc it booted fine, but wanted me to activate windows before I could log on, this is perhaps why I could not hear any system sounds..

I have also tested the memory in my own pc and it works fine, im thinking its something to do with the gfx, but it works in my own pc which confuses me, perhaps it could be a dodgy pci-e slot on the board, there are pci slots free so if only I had a spare pci card I could test it.

Adam18290 · 1 Mar 2009 at 19:30

The problem seems to be fixed, I tested a spare gfx card and the monitor powered on fine, however what is wierd is that the gfx card worked in my pc but not in his. I don't think the psu is dying cause the current card might be a bit more powerful than the old 1. Ive put a x800se 128mb in the pc and taken a 7300 nvidia card out. Why do you think the gfx card worked in my pc and not his :S?

PC seems to be working ok at the minute, just formatting it now.