PC won't start up. Loud beeps, no screen, no CD startup. Help pls

Mr. Flibble

My PC won't start up. When powered on the fans & HDDs start up then it emits a series of beeps about 1sec long, indefinatly I think. Nothing appears on the screen (stays in sleep mode). Inserting a win startup doesn't help. Any ideas anyone? Is there any other info I can give which might help?

hopeful

Can you give more info on the beeps? How many..pattern etc?

A single beep repeated often means a graphics card issue..sometimes as simple as the card becoming unseated. Has the PC been moved recently? Other beeps mean other issues.

Make and model of PC would help diagnose also.

aidan_walsh

If its a motherboard problem there should be a sequence to the beeps, if you have any idea what it might be.

What computer\motherboard do you have?

Mr. Flibble

Its an elara branded computer. No other info is on the outside. Here is a pic of it:
And a recording of the sounds, a succession of beeps approx 5 seconds long with approx 1s pause between.

I'll open it and look at the mother board if you tell me what you need to know from it.

aidan_walsh

When you switch on the computer does it tell you what type of BIOS you have? Something like AMI or Phoenix?

Mr. Flibble

aidan_walsh wrote:

When you switch on the computer does it tell you what type of BIOS you have? Something like AMI or Phoenix?

No, no signal to the monitor at all. It stays in sleep mode.

aidan_walsh

Hmm, seems to help confirm what the AMI BIOS 5 beep code suggests - processor failure. If you switch on the computer with the case open, can you see all the fans spinning? Particularily the one over the processor itself?

Auvers

If the beeps are repeating in a endless loop it sounds like a memory error, try reseating your ram modules.

Mr. Flibble

aidan_walsh wrote:

Hmm, seems to help confirm what the AMI BIOS 5 beep code suggests - processor failure. If you switch on the computer with the case open, can you see all the fans spinning? Particularily the one over the processor itself?

All the fans including the one on the processor spin fine. Its possible that leading up to the problem that the computer was left in a crashed state for 5 days. Possibly that overheated the processor?

Auvers wrote:

If the beeps are repeating in a endless loop it sounds like a memory error, try reseating your ram modules.

They seem ok. Disconnecting the CD and HDDs has no effect fwiw....

hopeful

Motherboard model number may be helpful.

But summarizing so far...could be cpu fan running slow or not at all. Memory or graphics card could be unseated. Doing a little reading suggests the 5 long beeps on many boards (esp older ones) can mean overheating alarm or slow/not running cpu fan.

Open PC and :
1. check if CPU fan spinning
2. Remove and reseat memory modules
3. Reseat graphics card

Let us know how you are getting on.

::edit:: when you say 'left in a crashed state' ? ::

Mr. Flibble

It says PM9MS on the mother board .Can't find much else. I reseated everything, no joy.

when you say 'left in a crashed state' ? ::

I was away for a week and when I got back it was on and crashed. Nothing on the screen afair.

hopeful

Mr. Flibble wrote:

It says PM9MS on the mother board .

That looks like a Jetway P4 board with an Award Bios.

Beep code still suggests CPU fan issue but also:

Quote from Bios Central "Continuous beeping, each lasting about three seconds. The beeping does not stop. Seems to be CPU related."

Doesn't sound good TBH.

zilog_jones

Hmm, seems to help confirm what the AMI BIOS 5 beep code suggests - processor failure.

He said it doesn't stop beeping. It sounds like the RAM to me. Have you tried removing the RAM and putting it back in, or if you have several modules, just trying one of them? Maybe it is the CPU though.

I was away for a week and when I got back it was on and crashed. Nothing on the screen afair.

Did you leave the PC on when you went away? It's quite likely something died then.

aidan_walsh

PM9MS

Thats a Jetway brand motherboard, VIA brand BIOS which uses the AMI-style beep codes.

Mr. Flibble

Crap.

Thanks for the info lads.

Mr. Flibble

OK. I took out all ram to no effect. Took out the cpu and it started up ok, no beeps, pity computer runs less than ideally without the cpu.

Cuddlesworth

Keep a eye on Adverts, you might see a socket 478 p4 come up.

zilog_jones

I would suggest trying the processor in another motherboard if possible. I've seen a lot more motherboards fail compared to processors - in fact, I've never seen a CPU fail . Anyway, just because it's giving a CPU error doesn't mean it's the CPU at fault - I've seen a motherboard giving a RAM error beep code and it just would not accept any RAM I tried in it (I had a lot of RAM on me at the time!).

hopeful

A shot in the dark maybe, but have you tried resetting the CMOS...should be a jumper on the board for this. Always worth a shot.

zilog_jones wrote:

in fact, I've never seen a CPU fail

I have...FYI an AMD 2000+ will NOT run at 3000+ speeds for very long

Catalyst

Could be the LCD panal has reset it self and reset the temp warning to default which is very low, 17 degrees i think, You and change the setting on the LCD panal.


Hope this helps.