Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Problems booting PC

  • 10-06-2009 7:15pm
    #1
    eshortie
    Closed Accounts Posts: 69 ✭✭


    Recently my PC started to act up when booting.
    It's odd the post check goes as normal but just as it finishes system beeps occur rapidly and here the PC stops, I can still access the setup/bios and boot menu at this stage.

    I generally go to the boot menu and select the SATA hard drive to boot and instantly XP begins to load....problem half solved.

    I'm guessing the PC is not detecting the hard drive to boot? Any one got any ideas as to why this is happening, performance otherwise is normal.


Comments

  • #2
    TJJP
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,529 ✭✭✭TJJP


    Make a note of your bios (should display at boot or websearch your pc brand for info).

    Then count the beeps.

    Websearch bios and 'error code' or 'beep code'

    Some examples here: http://www.pchell.com/hardware/beepcodes.shtml


    IBM Post Error:

    short beep - Normal POST - system is ok
    2 short beeps - POST Error - error code shown on screen
    No beep - Power supply or system board problem
    Continuous beep - Power supply, system board, or keyboard problem
    Repeating short beeps - Power supply or system board problem
    1 long, 1 short beep - System board problem
    1 long, 2 short beeps - Display adapter problem (MDA, CGA)
    1 long, 3 short beeps - Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA)
    3 long beeps - 3270 keyboard card

    Should get you on your way to finding the problem. Memory error from badly seated or dead simm/dimm is pretty common.

    Your issue sounds a bit like overloaded power supply. Try disconnecting some drives (CD or that).


  • #3
    eshortie
    Closed Accounts Posts: 69 ✭✭eshortie


    Lovely motherboard be gone.
    I thought it was a power supply problem at first as they beeps are continuous but I replaced that (300 watts) wth a 500 watt one OCZ StealthXstream removed all peripheral including GFX card and CD drive.

    So that ruled out that, I've been expecting it to be a mobo problem.

    It's Dell Dimension 5100 AO1 bios me thinks but will double check if needed

    the setup is
    P4 @ 3.06gz, 4x256MB RAM, 7600gt, one SATA Hard disk, 500W PSU. The RAM is seated properly I removed and installed and PC detects them all.

    Thanksfor the help, I hope it's not mobo as it's Dell BTX layout :(


  • #4
    TJJP
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,529 ✭✭✭TJJP


    See here too: System lights will also point to error state:

    http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim5100/en/sm/tshoot0.htm


  • #5
    eshortie
    Closed Accounts Posts: 69 ✭✭eshortie


    Thanks for the help TJJP willobserve the lights tomorrow after my exmas haha :)

    The beeping is erratic with no pattern, that isn't detailed in the dell support page shown so maybe the lights will givean indication.

    Ran an express diagnostic check a while back to no avail will do a Full test tomorrow thanks again!


Advertisement