ICEINSPACE
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Moon Phase
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Waning Crescent 23%
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22-11-2009, 08:30 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Posts: 1,581
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Jen,
The 3 beeps will be telling you what has gone wrong but will be specific to the type of PC you have. If you have a manul that came with it that may tell you what 3 beeps means.
Otherwise what is the PC? As much detail as you can. Then we can look it up.
If you have nothing on the monitor then could be one of the following.
- monitor is dead
- video card in the PC is dead
- monitor has simply become unplugged from the PC
Check all the cable connections. Unplug them all and put them back in.
You may be able to connect the monitor to your new laptop to test it.
Michael
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22-11-2009, 08:47 PM
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Let there be night...
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hobart, TAS
Posts: 7,639
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It depends on what BIOS your machine is running Jen. When first turned on, can you catch one of the following names that will appear within the first few seconds? Watch carefully for an escape key sequence (esc, F2, Del or other) that is shown to you quickly to put your machine into BIOS setup. You should see the BIOS manufacturer named at that point. I'm presuming AMI in your case. If it is, then maybe re-seat (or have someone familiar with the process) memory to see if it clears the problem. If not, try swapping memory modules around. At least it'll indicate a memory problem if the symptom changes.
Quote:
AMI BIOS ERROR BEEP CODES
1 Beep - Memory Refresh Failure (check memory)
2 Beeps - Memory Parity Error in first 64KB block (check memory)
3 Beeps - Memory Read/Write Error in first 64KB block (check memory)
4 Beeps - Motherboard timer not functioning (possible motherboard replacement)
5 Beeps - Processor Error (may need replacement Processor)
6 Beeps - Gate A20/keyboard controller failure (possible motherboard replacement)
7 Beeps - Processor Exception Interrupt Error (may need replacement Processor)
8 Beeps - Display Memory Read/Write Failure (reseat or replace video card)
9 Beeps - ROM checksum Error (replace BIOS chip or motherboard)
10 Beeps - CMOS shutdown Read/Write error (possible motherboard replacement)
11 Beeps - Bad Cache Memory - test failed (replace cache memory)
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Quote:
Phoenix BIOS ERROR BEEP CODES
Phoenix BIOS beep codes are a series of beeps separated by a pause, for example:
beep --- beep beep --- beep --- beep beep would be 1-2-1-2
1-1-4-1 - Cache Error (level 2)
1-2-2-3 - BIOS ROM Checksum
1-3-1-1 - DRAM Refresh Test
1-3-1-3 - Keyboard controller test
1-3-4-1 - RAM Failure on address line xxxx (check memory)
1-3-4-3 - RAM Failure on data bits xxxx of low byte of memory bus
1-4-1-1 - RAM Failure on data bits xxxx of high byte of memory bus
2-1-2-3 - ROM copyright notice
2-2-3-1 - Test for unexpected interrupts
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Quote:
AWARD BIOS ERROR BEEP CODES
There are 2 main beep codes for the Award BIOS:
one long beep and two short beeps - Video error (reseat or replace video card)
two short beeps - Non-Fatal Error (reseat RAM, check other components)
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22-11-2009, 10:23 PM
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Moving to Pandora
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Swan Hill
Posts: 7,102
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Hey guys i dont have no manuls for the computer as it was built from scratch 
I will do the monitor check now i have a spare 
And Chris the computer screen has nothing at all appear on it to even go and check out the bio or go to safe mode 
I'' be back soon with another update
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22-11-2009, 11:04 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Posts: 1,581
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If you open up the case the BIOS usually has a sticker on it which will identify it. Look for one of the names in Chris's post.
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22-11-2009, 11:31 PM
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I have detailed files....
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kellyville Ridge, NSW Australia
Posts: 3,306
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Hi Jen,
This sounds to me (as I have had this happen a number of times myself) that the video card is faulty or not plugged in properly, or has dust in the slot (probable).
If you know how to take the case off (either the side panel or the whole thing) then do the following.
1) Unplug the power cord from the PC
2) Unscrew the screws holding the case on.
3) Take the case off.
4) Find the Video card (where the monitor plugs in to the main box).
5) Unplug the monitor cable from the back of the video card, you will need to unscrew the two side screws on the cable to unplug it.
6) Unscrew the retaining screw that holds it into the card slot.
7) Firmly grasp the card and pull it out of the slot that it is in. (Make sure you remember where you got it from)
8) Check to see if the card slot has dust or gunk in it and blow it away or use a paint brush to dust it off.
9) Plug the video card back into the slot, make sure that it "clicks" in and the card holder bracket lines up with the screw hole.
10) Screw the card back down with the screw you removed before.
11) Plug the monitor cord back in and lightly tighten the side screws.
12) Plug the power cord back in.
13) Before you put the case back on, turn on the PC and see if it boots up. If it doesn't, then I suspect that the video card is DEAD and you will need to buy a new one. If it DOES boot up, then GREAT!, wait for it to boot up, then shut it down again and put the case back on.
Take the video card with you to the computer shop / Harvey Norman etc. and but a new one that is the same type as the dead one. A similar one should probably be about $20-$60, depending on the type.
I hope this works for you, as I said, I have had a few older PC's with exactly the same problem and if the video card was dead, the PC would boot, cycle its drives and then go beep beep beep, beep beep beep, and there would be NO video display at all. This normally HALTS the boot up sequence and this sounds a lot like what you have.
Good luck, this is a quite simple thing to replace but if the new video card doesn't work, then it might be good to have bought the card from say, Harvey Norman who can refund it if this is not the problem.
Cheers
Chris
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22-11-2009, 11:59 PM
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I have detailed files....
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kellyville Ridge, NSW Australia
Posts: 3,306
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HI Jen,
If the fan is not spinning then it could be because the card has no power on it because its power supply is faulty. If the fan plugs into the video card itself then if the power on the card is not working, then neither will the fan. It could be that the fan got clogged with dust and stopped, which caused the card to overheat and then it failed.
Have you tried to remove the card, blow out the dust and then replace it? Try that, and if still no joy, I think it might be time to but a new one.
Good luck computer newbie...
Cheers
Chris.
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23-11-2009, 12:09 AM
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Moving to Pandora
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Swan Hill
Posts: 7,102
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23-11-2009, 12:13 AM
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Moving to Pandora
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Swan Hill
Posts: 7,102
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23-11-2009, 12:52 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Glenhaven
Posts: 4,161
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Screwdriverone
Take the video card with you to the computer shop / Harvey Norman etc. and but a new one that is the same type as the dead one. A similar one should probably be about $20-$60, depending on the type.
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If it is an AGP card, a new card may not be that cheap, and stocks might be limited.
Jen, you didn't say what the BIOS was. Depending on the BIOS some of them beep before they even put the branding up on screen. See if you can find the motherboard brand (it will be silk screened on the board) and the BIOS brand (it will be printed on the chip and include a name, not just a part number).
You might also be at the cut your losses point. With old systems, once one bit fails others may not be far behind. You can get a complete new system, faster with more memory and disk and a warranty, without monitor for a few hundred $, and copy your files off the old disk. Replacing a CRT monitor with an LCD might reduce the overall power consumption too.
Andrew (when it comes to computer hardware, professional pessimist)
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23-11-2009, 04:40 PM
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Moving to Pandora
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Swan Hill
Posts: 7,102
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 Hi Andrew well after cleaning up my video card it still wouldnt spin but oh my it wasnt even on for 1 minute and yep the thing was very hot 
Ok my Bios is American Megatrends Inc 07.00T04/02/01
Is that what you need
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23-11-2009, 05:40 PM
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Buddhist Astronomer
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Phillip Island,VIC, Australia
Posts: 4,073
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Hi Jen
Thought you might enjoy a funny computer tech story this guy came into a computer repair shop saying that his computer wasn't working and that he had cleaned it out with his vacuum cleaner. The Tech went white and when he opened the case all the capacitors had been knocked off the MainBoard the processor fan ripped off the heatsink really just total destruction the Tech apparently was in tears I am not sure whether they were of laughter or pain.  
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23-11-2009, 06:26 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Glenhaven
Posts: 4,161
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Chris's list of AMI beep codes points to three beeps being a memory error, but with the fan on the video card not spinning, you might have two issues, or the video might be the root cause.
Your GeForce4 MX 440 is an NVidia AGP 8x card. If you want to stick with one of those you'd probably have to find it 2nd hand. There are other cards that will fit the bill, they just make it a bit more complex because you have to change video drivers.
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23-11-2009, 07:16 PM
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Let there be night...
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hobart, TAS
Posts: 7,639
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mithrandir
Chris's list of AMI beep codes points to three beeps being a memory error, but with the fan on the video card not spinning, you might have two issues, or the video might be the root cause.
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Yes Andrew - I think that the AMI bootstrap processor (BSP) checks base and extended memory ahead of video initialization - hence the 3 beeps pointing to memory. Jen - American Megatrends is "AMI" - therefore I believe that you have a memory problem as described, maybe in addition to others.
It probably doesn't even get to the point of firing up the video logic and monitor which is a lower-order peripheral that is not really even required to run the machine (i.e. headless).
Does anyone have a device initialization order table?
I think that there are two problems here too - and a stuck fan because of dust indicates that you have to clean your machine once in a while Jen! LOL!
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23-11-2009, 09:56 PM
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Moving to Pandora
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Swan Hill
Posts: 7,102
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23-11-2009, 09:58 PM
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Moving to Pandora
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Swan Hill
Posts: 7,102
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23-11-2009, 10:01 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Posts: 1,581
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Well youv'e gone this far.
If you have more than one memory stick on the PC try booting it up with only one in. If you have faulty memory this will identify which one. It is also a long shot that simply removing and reinserting the memory will give the contacts a bit a clean and cure the problem.
Components for these old machines can still be found but probably not in the mainstream stores. Look for the small independant store that you normally wouldn't go into.
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23-11-2009, 10:02 PM
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Moving to Pandora
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Swan Hill
Posts: 7,102
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