Stop Beeping!!

bliss

bliss

bliss

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Really hoping some of the OcUK guru's can help me here.

For the past 2 months i've been trying to diagnose/fix my sisters PC. It had been running fine for over 6 months then one day on it's first boot of the day it starting beeping before POST. The PC doesn't even reach the BIOS. She just gets these continous short beeps that are less than a second long.

I've only heard the beeps once, and according to the manual that means a power problem.

After about 4 or so attempts at trying to get her PC to boot it will do. It'll then be fully stable while in windows, restart as often as you want, and even power down and back up again. However if it's turned off and left for say over night the problem comes back usually 9 times out of 10.

So far i've reseated the CPU, heatsink and applied new thermal paste. Ran Orthos, IBT, and memtest86 on it for hours and recently changed out the PSU. None of these things have helped.

One thing i have noticed is that when the PC fails to boot the only sign of a problem when it finally gets going is that if you go into the BIOS it complains about a failed overclock. But the damned thing is at stock. :confused:

Any help before i suggest buying a new mobo?

Spec:

Intel C2D e6600
Gigabyte G41-ES2L
2x 1gb Corsair XMS2 PC6400
WD 320GB AAKS
Antec PSU that came with the case, possibly 450w EarthWatts or similar
Akasa Paxpower 400W
 
could try a new battery, Ive recently had to replace mine cos it kept losing the system date/time when ever fully powered off, can pick em up in most supermarkets cheap enough - CR2032
 
Manual says..

1 short: System boots successfully
2 short: CMOS setting error
1 long, 1 short: Memory or motherboard error
1 long, 2 short: Monitor or graphics card error
1 long, 3 short: Keyboard error
1 long, 9 short: BIOS ROM error
Continuous long beeps: Graphics card not inserted properly
Continuous short beeps: Power error

id try another psu, & check temps. Reset cmos.
 
95thrifles said:
could try a new battery, Ive recently had to replace mine cos it kept losing the system date/time when ever fully powered off, can pick em up in most supermarkets cheap enough - CR2032
Click to expand...

Tried a different battery from a spare PC a few days ago and no luck. Will try a brand new one.

Lemin said:
Manual says..

1 short: System boots successfully
2 short: CMOS setting error
1 long, 1 short: Memory or motherboard error
1 long, 2 short: Monitor or graphics card error
1 long, 3 short: Keyboard error
1 long, 9 short: BIOS ROM error
Continuous long beeps: Graphics card not inserted properly
Continuous short beeps: Power error

id try another psu, & check temps. Reset cmos.
Click to expand...

Tried another PSU already as stated in my OP. Temps are fine when idle and under load. Reset CMOS more times than i can count.
 
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Try increasing the volts to the ram by the smallest increment possible.

I can't really justify why - but I had a similar problem with a similar system and that worked for me.

You should be able to work out what the recommended/max voltages are for the ram you have.
 
billysielu said:
Try increasing the volts to the ram by the smallest increment possible.

I can't really justify why - but I had a similar problem with a similar system and that worked for me.

You should be able to work out what the recommended/max voltages are for the ram you have.
Click to expand...

I've tried the RAM between 1.8v and 2.1v. I've also tried changed the timings from it's 2.1v standard of 4-4-4-15 (i think) and 5-5-5-18 at 1.8v. Nothing has helped.

I either think the BIOS chip is knackered. Or the motherboard is slowly dying a general death.

This problem has been getting much worse as of late.

I believe the motherboard is around 8months old. Bought from Overclockers.
 
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bliss said:
I've also tried changed the timings from it's 2.1v standard of 4-4-4-15 (i think) and 5-5-5-18 at 1.8v
Click to expand...
Don't tighten timings when you increase voltage from 1.8V.

But that working correctly when warmed up but failing after cooling hints quite strongly to possibility of failed capacitors so check motherboard for any slight bulging of capacitors.
 
i have no clue, if it says its a failed overclock try clearing the bios then updateing it to a newer bios.

other than that i have no idea
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. Going to take another look at it tomorrow one last time with a few ideas from this thread. If they don't work it's time to head on down to Overlockers. :D
 
Just wanted to update this thread. A few days ago i decided to take the RAM from my HTPC which i knew i wouldn't be using for a few days over to my sisters and try that.

My RAM is 2x 1gb Geil Ultra Low Latency PC6400 DDR2, and her PC worked without a hitch for 3 and a bit days!

I replaced my RAM with hers yesterday, and as per usual after it's been running for a while it booted fine and was fine for the rest of the day.

This morning she boots the PC and guess what? Beep Beep Beep Beep Beep. :(

I'm completely stumped. The RAM worked fine for over 6 months so surely it's not incompatible, and when it boots and i run memtest, it does pass after pass with no errors.

Going to go over today after update the BIOS. Something i've never done before. So wish me luck on that one. :p

If that doesn't work i'm going to suggest new RAM unless somebody here thinks that's a bad plan.
 
It's almost certainly a motherboard problem. Do you have another that you could try?

It's also worth taking a look if there are any BIOS updates, as they can often solve problems like this.
 
LiamJ said:
It's almost certainly a motherboard problem. Do you have another that you could try?

It's also worth taking a look if there are any BIOS updates, as they can often solve problems like this.
Click to expand...

You sure it's a motherboard problem? Swapping her Corsair RAM for my Geil seemingly fixed the issue.

No spare motherboard as of sorts. I have 2 S775 motherboards but both are in use daily and it would be a pain to strip either of my PC's.
 
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