If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Computer won't boot
I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that
I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all checked out and settled in. Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of the computer flash a few times, then everything stops. I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light flashes a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP. Any ideas as to what I might try next? Thanks, Gordon |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Computer won't boot
Antares 531 wrote:
I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all checked out and settled in. Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of the computer flash a few times, then everything stops. I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light flashes a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP. Any ideas as to what I might try next? Your problem is *not* software. It is hardware. Unhook everything from power, open the case and clean it out of dust with compressed (canned) air. Remove/unhook all parts (one at a time) that can be disconnected/removed and put them back ion place (just unhook them, immediately hook them back up, move on to the next part.) Do this for the hard disk drive cables (power included), CD cables (power included), motherboard power, memory, even the processor if you feel comfortable doing so. Then put the case cover back on, secure all the external connections and turn it back on. If that fails - chances are some hardware you just touched has died - it happens. How's your backups? ;-) -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Computer won't boot
Antares 531 wrote:
I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all checked out and settled in. Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of the computer flash a few times, then everything stops. I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light flashes a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP. Any ideas as to what I might try next? Your problem is *not* software. It is hardware. Unhook everything from power, open the case and clean it out of dust with compressed (canned) air. Remove/unhook all parts (one at a time) that can be disconnected/removed and put them back ion place (just unhook them, immediately hook them back up, move on to the next part.) Do this for the hard disk drive cables (power included), CD cables (power included), motherboard power, memory, even the processor if you feel comfortable doing so. Then put the case cover back on, secure all the external connections and turn it back on. If that fails - chances are some hardware you just touched has died - it happens. How's your backups? ;-) -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Computer won't boot
On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 09:41:38 -0600, "Shenan Stanley"
wrote: Antares 531 wrote: I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all checked out and settled in. Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of the computer flash a few times, then everything stops. I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light flashes a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP. Any ideas as to what I might try next? Your problem is *not* software. It is hardware. Unhook everything from power, open the case and clean it out of dust with compressed (canned) air. Remove/unhook all parts (one at a time) that can be disconnected/removed and put them back ion place (just unhook them, immediately hook them back up, move on to the next part.) Do this for the hard disk drive cables (power included), CD cables (power included), motherboard power, memory, even the processor if you feel comfortable doing so. Then put the case cover back on, secure all the external connections and turn it back on. If that fails - chances are some hardware you just touched has died - it happens. How's your backups? ;-) -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP Thanks, Stanley, I'll do this and see if I can resolve the problem. I already did a dust bunny clean-up and pressed the RAM, add-in cards and other connections to make sure they were in place. Maybe removing and re-inserting these will resolve the problem. Fortunately, I got my new computer up and running and all my important stuff moved over to it before this happened. I'm out in the clear as far as backups are concerned. Gordon |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Computer won't boot
On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 09:41:38 -0600, "Shenan Stanley"
wrote: Antares 531 wrote: I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all checked out and settled in. Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of the computer flash a few times, then everything stops. I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light flashes a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP. Any ideas as to what I might try next? Your problem is *not* software. It is hardware. Unhook everything from power, open the case and clean it out of dust with compressed (canned) air. Remove/unhook all parts (one at a time) that can be disconnected/removed and put them back ion place (just unhook them, immediately hook them back up, move on to the next part.) Do this for the hard disk drive cables (power included), CD cables (power included), motherboard power, memory, even the processor if you feel comfortable doing so. Then put the case cover back on, secure all the external connections and turn it back on. If that fails - chances are some hardware you just touched has died - it happens. How's your backups? ;-) -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP Thanks, Stanley, I'll do this and see if I can resolve the problem. I already did a dust bunny clean-up and pressed the RAM, add-in cards and other connections to make sure they were in place. Maybe removing and re-inserting these will resolve the problem. Fortunately, I got my new computer up and running and all my important stuff moved over to it before this happened. I'm out in the clear as far as backups are concerned. Gordon |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Computer won't boot
"Antares 531" wrote in message
... I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all checked out and settled in. Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of the computer flash a few times, then everything stops. I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light flashes a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP. Any ideas as to what I might try next? That model mobo apparently has an Award BIOS. One LONG beep from an Award BIOS often indicates a memory error. I would start by re-seating the RAM. If there is more than on stick of RAM try using just one, then the other (in the first RAM slot). If no improvement, try reseating the PCI cards and other items connected to the motherboard (power connectors, etc). It could be other things, but that's where to start. -- Glen Ventura, MS MVP Oct. 2002 - Sept. 2009 A+ http://dts-l.net/ |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Computer won't boot
"Antares 531" wrote in message
... I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all checked out and settled in. Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of the computer flash a few times, then everything stops. I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light flashes a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP. Any ideas as to what I might try next? That model mobo apparently has an Award BIOS. One LONG beep from an Award BIOS often indicates a memory error. I would start by re-seating the RAM. If there is more than on stick of RAM try using just one, then the other (in the first RAM slot). If no improvement, try reseating the PCI cards and other items connected to the motherboard (power connectors, etc). It could be other things, but that's where to start. -- Glen Ventura, MS MVP Oct. 2002 - Sept. 2009 A+ http://dts-l.net/ |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Computer won't boot
On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:04:53 -0500, "glee"
wrote: "Antares 531" wrote in message .. . I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all checked out and settled in. Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of the computer flash a few times, then everything stops. I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light flashes a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP. Any ideas as to what I might try next? That model mobo apparently has an Award BIOS. One LONG beep from an Award BIOS often indicates a memory error. I would start by re-seating the RAM. If there is more than on stick of RAM try using just one, then the other (in the first RAM slot). If no improvement, try reseating the PCI cards and other items connected to the motherboard (power connectors, etc). It could be other things, but that's where to start. Thanks, Glee, I followed your suggestion but didn't get any favorable results. I powered down, pulled the power cord then removed the RAM stick out of the DDRII 2 slot then booted and still got the beep. I then powered down pulled the power cord and removed the RAM stick from the DDRII 1 slot and replaced it with the one I had removed from the other slot. Still beeped at me. I powered down again, pulled the power cord, then put the second RAM stick into the DDRII 2 slot. This had the two RAM sticks switched around from their original positions. Still got the beep. Something I noticed...the CPU cooling fan seems to be erratic. That is it will start running as soon as I click the switch to boot up, but it stops then jiggles intermittently when the beep sound occurs. After the beep sound, this fan starts running normally without further interruption. Could this mean that the CPU has failed? Gordon |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Computer won't boot
On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:04:53 -0500, "glee"
wrote: "Antares 531" wrote in message .. . I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all checked out and settled in. Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of the computer flash a few times, then everything stops. I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light flashes a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP. Any ideas as to what I might try next? That model mobo apparently has an Award BIOS. One LONG beep from an Award BIOS often indicates a memory error. I would start by re-seating the RAM. If there is more than on stick of RAM try using just one, then the other (in the first RAM slot). If no improvement, try reseating the PCI cards and other items connected to the motherboard (power connectors, etc). It could be other things, but that's where to start. Thanks, Glee, I followed your suggestion but didn't get any favorable results. I powered down, pulled the power cord then removed the RAM stick out of the DDRII 2 slot then booted and still got the beep. I then powered down pulled the power cord and removed the RAM stick from the DDRII 1 slot and replaced it with the one I had removed from the other slot. Still beeped at me. I powered down again, pulled the power cord, then put the second RAM stick into the DDRII 2 slot. This had the two RAM sticks switched around from their original positions. Still got the beep. Something I noticed...the CPU cooling fan seems to be erratic. That is it will start running as soon as I click the switch to boot up, but it stops then jiggles intermittently when the beep sound occurs. After the beep sound, this fan starts running normally without further interruption. Could this mean that the CPU has failed? Gordon |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Computer won't boot
"Antares 531" wrote in message
... On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:04:53 -0500, "glee" wrote: "Antares 531" wrote in message . .. I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all checked out and settled in. Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of the computer flash a few times, then everything stops. I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light flashes a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP. Any ideas as to what I might try next? That model mobo apparently has an Award BIOS. One LONG beep from an Award BIOS often indicates a memory error. I would start by re-seating the RAM. If there is more than on stick of RAM try using just one, then the other (in the first RAM slot). If no improvement, try reseating the PCI cards and other items connected to the motherboard (power connectors, etc). It could be other things, but that's where to start. Thanks, Glee, I followed your suggestion but didn't get any favorable results. I powered down, pulled the power cord then removed the RAM stick out of the DDRII 2 slot then booted and still got the beep. I then powered down pulled the power cord and removed the RAM stick from the DDRII 1 slot and replaced it with the one I had removed from the other slot. Still beeped at me. I powered down again, pulled the power cord, then put the second RAM stick into the DDRII 2 slot. This had the two RAM sticks switched around from their original positions. Still got the beep. Something I noticed...the CPU cooling fan seems to be erratic. That is it will start running as soon as I click the switch to boot up, but it stops then jiggles intermittently when the beep sound occurs. After the beep sound, this fan starts running normally without further interruption. Could this mean that the CPU has failed? It's hard to say, Gordon....it could be the power supply, or the mobo or the CPU too. Have you removed all the peripherals and cards except video, re-seated absolutely everything, and tried again? Try with the optical drives disconnected and only the hard drive connected (and floppy drive if you have one). Try with only the floppy drives connected if one is installed. Try with NO drives connected. A single long beep *usually* does not indicate a display problem. This is a long beep, not the short beep one often hears during a normal start-up, yes? It's a slow process of re-seating, and disconnecting/reconnecting everything to see if you get different behaviour...namely, if you can get anything on the screen. Does this have integrated video, or a separate video card? If I had to make a total guess, I'd bet on a power supply problem. Do you have a simple power supply tester, or a spare PSU you can try? ATX PSU Tester http://www.buy.com/prod/startech-com...202973591.html and http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-PSUTE.../dp/B000HVFBX8 -- Glen Ventura, MS MVP Oct. 2002 - Sept. 2009 A+ http://dts-l.net/ |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
Computer won't boot
"Antares 531" wrote in message ... On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:04:53 -0500, "glee" wrote: "Antares 531" wrote in message . .. I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all checked out and settled in. Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of the computer flash a few times, then everything stops. I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light flashes a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP. Any ideas as to what I might try next? That model mobo apparently has an Award BIOS. One LONG beep from an Award BIOS often indicates a memory error. I would start by re-seating the RAM. If there is more than on stick of RAM try using just one, then the other (in the first RAM slot). If no improvement, try reseating the PCI cards and other items connected to the motherboard (power connectors, etc). It could be other things, but that's where to start. Thanks, Glee, I followed your suggestion but didn't get any favorable results. I powered down, pulled the power cord then removed the RAM stick out of the DDRII 2 slot then booted and still got the beep. I then powered down pulled the power cord and removed the RAM stick from the DDRII 1 slot and replaced it with the one I had removed from the other slot. Still beeped at me. I powered down again, pulled the power cord, then put the second RAM stick into the DDRII 2 slot. This had the two RAM sticks switched around from their original positions. Still got the beep. Something I noticed...the CPU cooling fan seems to be erratic. That is it will start running as soon as I click the switch to boot up, but it stops then jiggles intermittently when the beep sound occurs. After the beep sound, this fan starts running normally without further interruption. Could this mean that the CPU has failed? It's hard to say, Gordon....it could be the power supply, or the mobo or the CPU too. Have you removed all the peripherals and cards except video, re-seated absolutely everything, and tried again? Try with the optical drives disconnected and only the hard drive connected (and floppy drive if you have one). Try with only the floppy drives connected if one is installed. Try with NO drives connected. A single long beep *usually* does not indicate a display problem. This is a long beep, not the short beep one often hears during a normal start-up, yes? It's a slow process of re-seating, and disconnecting/reconnecting everything to see if you get different behaviour...namely, if you can get anything on the screen. Does this have integrated video, or a separate video card? If I had to make a total guess, I'd bet on a power supply problem. Do you have a simple power supply tester, or a spare PSU you can try? ATX PSU Tester http://www.buy.com/prod/startech-com...202973591.html and http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-PSUTE.../dp/B000HVFBX8 -- Glen Ventura, MS MVP Oct. 2002 - Sept. 2009 A+ http://dts-l.net/ |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
Computer won't boot
On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:15:36 -0500, "glee"
wrote: "Antares 531" wrote in message .. . On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:04:53 -0500, "glee" wrote: "Antares 531" wrote in message ... I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all checked out and settled in. Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of the computer flash a few times, then everything stops. I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light flashes a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP. Any ideas as to what I might try next? That model mobo apparently has an Award BIOS. One LONG beep from an Award BIOS often indicates a memory error. I would start by re-seating the RAM. If there is more than on stick of RAM try using just one, then the other (in the first RAM slot). If no improvement, try reseating the PCI cards and other items connected to the motherboard (power connectors, etc). It could be other things, but that's where to start. Thanks, Glee, I followed your suggestion but didn't get any favorable results. I powered down, pulled the power cord then removed the RAM stick out of the DDRII 2 slot then booted and still got the beep. I then powered down pulled the power cord and removed the RAM stick from the DDRII 1 slot and replaced it with the one I had removed from the other slot. Still beeped at me. I powered down again, pulled the power cord, then put the second RAM stick into the DDRII 2 slot. This had the two RAM sticks switched around from their original positions. Still got the beep. Something I noticed...the CPU cooling fan seems to be erratic. That is it will start running as soon as I click the switch to boot up, but it stops then jiggles intermittently when the beep sound occurs. After the beep sound, this fan starts running normally without further interruption. Could this mean that the CPU has failed? It's hard to say, Gordon....it could be the power supply, or the mobo or the CPU too. Have you removed all the peripherals and cards except video, re-seated absolutely everything, and tried again? Try with the optical drives disconnected and only the hard drive connected (and floppy drive if you have one). Try with only the floppy drives connected if one is installed. Try with NO drives connected. A single long beep *usually* does not indicate a display problem. This is a long beep, not the short beep one often hears during a normal start-up, yes? It's a slow process of re-seating, and disconnecting/reconnecting everything to see if you get different behaviour...namely, if you can get anything on the screen. Does this have integrated video, or a separate video card? If I had to make a total guess, I'd bet on a power supply problem. Do you have a simple power supply tester, or a spare PSU you can try? ATX PSU Tester http://www.buy.com/prod/startech-com...202973591.html and http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-PSUTE.../dp/B000HVFBX8 I've gone through the process of removing and re-installing all the add-in cards and interconnection cables. This didn't produce any noticeable changes other than the CPU fan now runs in short bursts of about 2 or 3 seconds whereas it was just jiggling like it was starting to run but never actually rotated the fan. To answer another question...I do have an nVidia e-GeForce 7600 GS graphics card installed. This is a 512 MB PCI-E video card. I'm not using the motherboard's graphics output. I've not yet tested the power supply (PC Power & Cooling Silencer 470 ATX 12V, Ver 2.2), but it seems to be working okay in that all the drive activity lights blink on and I can hear the drives spin up and the read/write arms move. I'm wondering if maybe the BIOS memory chip or battery has gone bad. I built this computer in October, 2007. It shouldn't be near the point of battery failure, I wouldn't think. Also, even if the BIOS battery is dead, wouldn't the boot CD still work? Should I buy a fresh battery and do a change-out? Gordon |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
Computer won't boot
On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:15:36 -0500, "glee"
wrote: "Antares 531" wrote in message .. . On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:04:53 -0500, "glee" wrote: "Antares 531" wrote in message ... I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all checked out and settled in. Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of the computer flash a few times, then everything stops. I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light flashes a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP. Any ideas as to what I might try next? That model mobo apparently has an Award BIOS. One LONG beep from an Award BIOS often indicates a memory error. I would start by re-seating the RAM. If there is more than on stick of RAM try using just one, then the other (in the first RAM slot). If no improvement, try reseating the PCI cards and other items connected to the motherboard (power connectors, etc). It could be other things, but that's where to start. Thanks, Glee, I followed your suggestion but didn't get any favorable results. I powered down, pulled the power cord then removed the RAM stick out of the DDRII 2 slot then booted and still got the beep. I then powered down pulled the power cord and removed the RAM stick from the DDRII 1 slot and replaced it with the one I had removed from the other slot. Still beeped at me. I powered down again, pulled the power cord, then put the second RAM stick into the DDRII 2 slot. This had the two RAM sticks switched around from their original positions. Still got the beep. Something I noticed...the CPU cooling fan seems to be erratic. That is it will start running as soon as I click the switch to boot up, but it stops then jiggles intermittently when the beep sound occurs. After the beep sound, this fan starts running normally without further interruption. Could this mean that the CPU has failed? It's hard to say, Gordon....it could be the power supply, or the mobo or the CPU too. Have you removed all the peripherals and cards except video, re-seated absolutely everything, and tried again? Try with the optical drives disconnected and only the hard drive connected (and floppy drive if you have one). Try with only the floppy drives connected if one is installed. Try with NO drives connected. A single long beep *usually* does not indicate a display problem. This is a long beep, not the short beep one often hears during a normal start-up, yes? It's a slow process of re-seating, and disconnecting/reconnecting everything to see if you get different behaviour...namely, if you can get anything on the screen. Does this have integrated video, or a separate video card? If I had to make a total guess, I'd bet on a power supply problem. Do you have a simple power supply tester, or a spare PSU you can try? ATX PSU Tester http://www.buy.com/prod/startech-com...202973591.html and http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-PSUTE.../dp/B000HVFBX8 I've gone through the process of removing and re-installing all the add-in cards and interconnection cables. This didn't produce any noticeable changes other than the CPU fan now runs in short bursts of about 2 or 3 seconds whereas it was just jiggling like it was starting to run but never actually rotated the fan. To answer another question...I do have an nVidia e-GeForce 7600 GS graphics card installed. This is a 512 MB PCI-E video card. I'm not using the motherboard's graphics output. I've not yet tested the power supply (PC Power & Cooling Silencer 470 ATX 12V, Ver 2.2), but it seems to be working okay in that all the drive activity lights blink on and I can hear the drives spin up and the read/write arms move. I'm wondering if maybe the BIOS memory chip or battery has gone bad. I built this computer in October, 2007. It shouldn't be near the point of battery failure, I wouldn't think. Also, even if the BIOS battery is dead, wouldn't the boot CD still work? Should I buy a fresh battery and do a change-out? Gordon |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
Computer won't boot
Antares 531 wrote:
On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:15:36 -0500, "glee" wrote: "Antares 531" wrote in message ... On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:04:53 -0500, "glee" wrote: "Antares 531" wrote in message ... I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all checked out and settled in. Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of the computer flash a few times, then everything stops. I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light flashes a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP. Any ideas as to what I might try next? That model mobo apparently has an Award BIOS. One LONG beep from an Award BIOS often indicates a memory error. I would start by re-seating the RAM. If there is more than on stick of RAM try using just one, then the other (in the first RAM slot). If no improvement, try reseating the PCI cards and other items connected to the motherboard (power connectors, etc). It could be other things, but that's where to start. Thanks, Glee, I followed your suggestion but didn't get any favorable results. I powered down, pulled the power cord then removed the RAM stick out of the DDRII 2 slot then booted and still got the beep. I then powered down pulled the power cord and removed the RAM stick from the DDRII 1 slot and replaced it with the one I had removed from the other slot. Still beeped at me. I powered down again, pulled the power cord, then put the second RAM stick into the DDRII 2 slot. This had the two RAM sticks switched around from their original positions. Still got the beep. Something I noticed...the CPU cooling fan seems to be erratic. That is it will start running as soon as I click the switch to boot up, but it stops then jiggles intermittently when the beep sound occurs. After the beep sound, this fan starts running normally without further interruption. Could this mean that the CPU has failed? It's hard to say, Gordon....it could be the power supply, or the mobo or the CPU too. Have you removed all the peripherals and cards except video, re-seated absolutely everything, and tried again? Try with the optical drives disconnected and only the hard drive connected (and floppy drive if you have one). Try with only the floppy drives connected if one is installed. Try with NO drives connected. A single long beep *usually* does not indicate a display problem. This is a long beep, not the short beep one often hears during a normal start-up, yes? It's a slow process of re-seating, and disconnecting/reconnecting everything to see if you get different behaviour...namely, if you can get anything on the screen. Does this have integrated video, or a separate video card? If I had to make a total guess, I'd bet on a power supply problem. Do you have a simple power supply tester, or a spare PSU you can try? ATX PSU Tester http://www.buy.com/prod/startech-com...202973591.html and http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-PSUTE.../dp/B000HVFBX8 I've gone through the process of removing and re-installing all the add-in cards and interconnection cables. This didn't produce any noticeable changes other than the CPU fan now runs in short bursts of about 2 or 3 seconds whereas it was just jiggling like it was starting to run but never actually rotated the fan. To answer another question...I do have an nVidia e-GeForce 7600 GS graphics card installed. This is a 512 MB PCI-E video card. I'm not using the motherboard's graphics output. I've not yet tested the power supply (PC Power & Cooling Silencer 470 ATX 12V, Ver 2.2), but it seems to be working okay in that all the drive activity lights blink on and I can hear the drives spin up and the read/write arms move. I'm wondering if maybe the BIOS memory chip or battery has gone bad. I built this computer in October, 2007. It shouldn't be near the point of battery failure, I wouldn't think. Also, even if the BIOS battery is dead, wouldn't the boot CD still work? Should I buy a fresh battery and do a change-out? Find the beep codes for your BIOS and your questions will be answered. Glee says that the board has an Award BIOS so possible starting points: http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=...p&fr=yfp-t-501 http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=...p&fr=yfp-t-501 http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=...p&fr=yfp-t-501 John |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
Computer won't boot
Antares 531 wrote: On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:15:36 -0500, "glee" wrote: "Antares 531" wrote in message ... On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:04:53 -0500, "glee" wrote: "Antares 531" wrote in message ... I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all checked out and settled in. Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of the computer flash a few times, then everything stops. I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light flashes a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP. Any ideas as to what I might try next? That model mobo apparently has an Award BIOS. One LONG beep from an Award BIOS often indicates a memory error. I would start by re-seating the RAM. If there is more than on stick of RAM try using just one, then the other (in the first RAM slot). If no improvement, try reseating the PCI cards and other items connected to the motherboard (power connectors, etc). It could be other things, but that's where to start. Thanks, Glee, I followed your suggestion but didn't get any favorable results. I powered down, pulled the power cord then removed the RAM stick out of the DDRII 2 slot then booted and still got the beep. I then powered down pulled the power cord and removed the RAM stick from the DDRII 1 slot and replaced it with the one I had removed from the other slot. Still beeped at me. I powered down again, pulled the power cord, then put the second RAM stick into the DDRII 2 slot. This had the two RAM sticks switched around from their original positions. Still got the beep. Something I noticed...the CPU cooling fan seems to be erratic. That is it will start running as soon as I click the switch to boot up, but it stops then jiggles intermittently when the beep sound occurs. After the beep sound, this fan starts running normally without further interruption. Could this mean that the CPU has failed? It's hard to say, Gordon....it could be the power supply, or the mobo or the CPU too. Have you removed all the peripherals and cards except video, re-seated absolutely everything, and tried again? Try with the optical drives disconnected and only the hard drive connected (and floppy drive if you have one). Try with only the floppy drives connected if one is installed. Try with NO drives connected. A single long beep *usually* does not indicate a display problem. This is a long beep, not the short beep one often hears during a normal start-up, yes? It's a slow process of re-seating, and disconnecting/reconnecting everything to see if you get different behaviour...namely, if you can get anything on the screen. Does this have integrated video, or a separate video card? If I had to make a total guess, I'd bet on a power supply problem. Do you have a simple power supply tester, or a spare PSU you can try? ATX PSU Tester http://www.buy.com/prod/startech-com...202973591.html and http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-PSUTE.../dp/B000HVFBX8 I've gone through the process of removing and re-installing all the add-in cards and interconnection cables. This didn't produce any noticeable changes other than the CPU fan now runs in short bursts of about 2 or 3 seconds whereas it was just jiggling like it was starting to run but never actually rotated the fan. To answer another question...I do have an nVidia e-GeForce 7600 GS graphics card installed. This is a 512 MB PCI-E video card. I'm not using the motherboard's graphics output. I've not yet tested the power supply (PC Power & Cooling Silencer 470 ATX 12V, Ver 2.2), but it seems to be working okay in that all the drive activity lights blink on and I can hear the drives spin up and the read/write arms move. I'm wondering if maybe the BIOS memory chip or battery has gone bad. I built this computer in October, 2007. It shouldn't be near the point of battery failure, I wouldn't think. Also, even if the BIOS battery is dead, wouldn't the boot CD still work? Should I buy a fresh battery and do a change-out? Find the beep codes for your BIOS and your questions will be answered. Glee says that the board has an Award BIOS so possible starting points: http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=...p&fr=yfp-t-501 http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=...p&fr=yfp-t-501 http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=...p&fr=yfp-t-501 John |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|