Computer beeps on startup?

Hogzy

Over the last few days my desktop has been acting up a little. Iv been getting quite random blue screens recently and the other day when i booted up the hardware started fine but the screen simply remained blank. Plugged everything out and back in again and ensured graphics cards were seated ok, swithced the DVI to a different slot and it worked ok.

Booted up now this morning, it booted fine but after 10 mins the screen just froze. Now everytime i boot up there is a long beep sound that stays on for about 5 seconds, stops for about 3 seconds and starts for another 5 continuously.

Anyone know whats going on. Cant access startup menu or anything so im in the dark a bit!

All fans are working ok btw

Deano12345

Hogzy wrote: »

Over the last few days my desktop has been acting up a little. Iv been getting quite random blue screens recently and the other day when i booted up the hardware started fine but the screen simply remained blank. Plugged everything out and back in again and ensured graphics cards were seated ok, swithced the DVI to a different slot and it worked ok.

Booted up now this morning, it booted fine but after 10 mins the screen just froze. Now everytime i boot up there is a long beep sound that stays on for about 5 seconds, stops for about 3 seconds and starts for another 5 continuously.

Anyone know whats going on. Cant access startup menu or anything so im in the dark a bit!

All fans are working ok btw

What brand of motehrboard is it..different motherboards have different codes

leninbenjamin

the meaning of the beeps will vary from manufacturer, but it's a sign the machine wont post, possibly meaning hardware failure.

try and dig up the manual for your mobo/PC and see if it outlines what the beeps mean.

edit: my guess would be the graphics card has failed.

swirlser

By no means an expert, but usually the beeps your describing is your mobo signalling an issue - assuming this is the case, you need to look up ur mobo manual and check what that 5sec continuous beep stands for.

Otherwise, did the bluescreens indicate which device is acting up?

What was the last thing you altered in your machine (can you put it back)

(Bah, beat me to it LB ;p)

Hogzy

Ok, Box of manuals is in the attic so ill have to go up there, The blue screens last mere seconds and AFAIK it crashed due to software drivers and not Hardware... I could be wrong tho.

Just reseated graphics cards, ram and unplugged all cables and its just booted up fine...

Are there any checks i could do now that im in windows to see what may be faulty?

swirlser

lol, CIE moment there, 40 mins of nothing and then 3 all at once............

The beeps are more likely to indicate a hardware issue (altho its not to say it wasnt initiated by software - yeah thats of no help I know)

Even if its booted up now, it wouldnt hurt to find out what that beeping meant anyway so do check up on ur mobo manual for that

leninbenjamin

Hogzy wrote: »

Ok, Box of manuals is in the attic so ill have to go up there

if it was bought in the last 5 years, a quick google search of the model no. will probably get you a PDF of it.

Hogzy wrote: »

The blue screens last mere seconds and AFAIK it crashed due to software drivers and not Hardware... I could be wrong tho.

Hogzy wrote: »

Are there any checks i could do now that im in windows to see what may be faulty?

check the temps maybe?

Hogzy

Just checked the temps and the GPU's were idling at 76, bit too high for my liking (usually idle 20' lower than that, my case isnt really designed for SLI airflow), Recently installed new Nvidia drivers, Just noticed in the control panel that they reset the cooling fans to 50%, bumped them back up to 100% so ill see how i get on, id say the computer was blue screening because their temps went up too high, would that explain this mornings incident though, The computer was off for a good 12 hours so i dont see why temps would prevent it from starting?



UGH excuse lack of paragraphs^^^

swirlser

From what youve said that would make sense, it doesnt take long at all for those cards to heat up and if they exceed a certain temp the machine will shut down.

I had a fan go on 1 of my gpu's before and it was going over 100 degrees lol, not good.

Should use an app to monitor those temps and keep any vents on ur case nice and clear

leninbenjamin

Hogzy wrote: »

The computer was off for a good 12 hours so i dont see why temps would prevent it from starting?

my GTX285 only hits 76 on full load... that's way too high. I'd consider getting new heatsinks for them if the are idling near 70. You shouldn't have to turn the fans up to 100% either when idling.

The actual BSOD could be caused by a sudden change in the temps. Very sudden changes (like going from a cold boot to 76 at idle in a few secs) can cause problems in the hardware. I had a Dell machine in college where if you ever turned the machine off, it would fail. The northbridge would get too hot from the boot too fast and just crack. But if we left them on 24/7, never a problem.

Hogzy

They are 8800gtx's, apparently they are known for bad temps. Think my case needs to be changed too as the current one i have has CRAP airflow! ATM cant go spending cash on a new GPU, Might change the case first and see how i get on with that, hopefully this has solved the problem,

Im using speedfan to monitor my temps, everything is below normal apart from the dam GPU's... Very annoying!

leninbenjamin

Hogzy wrote: »

They are 8800gtx's, apparently they are known for bad temps. Think my case needs to be changed too as the current one i have has CRAP airflow! ATM cant go spending cash on a new GPU, Might change the case first and see how i get on with that, hopefully this has solved the problem,

Im using speedfan to monitor my temps, everything is below normal apart from the dam GPU's... Very annoying!

ah right, they do tend to run hot.

well, a couple of good heatsinks for the GPUs mightn't cost too much, but if the case is the problem they may not do much good.

Another possibility would be to maybe just cut a hole into the side of the case and attach one or two high RPM fans directed straight at the GPUs (maybe a friend has an angle grinder or similar?).

edit: In some it may even be possible to remove some of 5.25'' drive bays if they not going to use and adding in another one or two fans there.

btw, I've found speedfan to underestimate temps before. They could actually be running a few degrees hotter than you realise. try comparing the readings against the likes of realtemp perhaps?

Rezident

Hogzy wrote: »

They are 8800gtx's, apparently they are known for bad temps. Think my case needs to be changed too as the current one i have has CRAP airflow! ATM cant go spending cash on a new GPU, Might change the case first and see how i get on with that, hopefully this has solved the problem,

Im using speedfan to monitor my temps, everything is below normal apart from the dam GPU's... Very annoying!

Good case can make a world of difference for airflow, I would highly recommend any of the Antecs, any that I've had have all had excellent cooling and there's usually room to add more fans in you need.