backup pc malfunctioning...

[hypernova]

my backup pc that i've been using to test my current progress has decided to go kaputz.  it's in this forum because of the initial symptom.  the pc powers on and everything, but the monitor doesn't display anything at all, plus something (sounds like the mobo) keeps emitting a single long beep every 3 or so seconds.

rather than wasting time attempting trial and error, i'm hoping someone has a good idea of what's causing the problem.  my initial guess is the video card, followed by the mobo itself.

any help is appreciated.  thanks!

[dabone]

Ram.


Try reseating it.



Later,
dabone

[hypernova]

hmm...ok, i've tried that, nothing doing.  is there a possibility it's the mobo's ram housings, or the circuitry involving the ram section of the board?

not questioning you, quite frankly, i hope it's the ram.  finding some nice used ones on ebay for a buck.  and a couple of them even offer cheap shipping.  (i see people charging $15.00 for shipping!!!! on one stick!  through the USPS!  ridiculous!)

[dabone]

What cpu/motherboard is it?


Later,
dabone

[hypernova]

p3 500, asus p2b-s.  all three components are...6 years old approximately.  so age won't help me eliminate suspects.

the only real thing i can test is the video card and the hd.  but it's not the hd obviously.  my main pc is less than a year old.

[subcriminal]

You need to know what BIOS your PC has to tell what the beep code means.
Going by IBM's original standard codes 3 long beeps is keyboard controller. Try another keyboard. In any case before pulling stuff about, enter the BIOS as the PC powers up and reset it to failsafe settings.
I've only had two motherboards go faulty and they didn't cause a non-boot. In both cases they caused crashes after Windows had loaded.
Your BIOS is most likely to be: Award or AMI BIOS (Newer PC's) or Pheonix if it's old. but there are other makes of chip.
Good luck!

[hypernova]

it's just one long 2 second beep.  can't check the bios.  nothing shows on the screen.  it's award anyway.

[elvis]

It's either RAM or video.  Different BIOSes use different beep-codes for failure, but 99% of the time it's one of those two (busted CPU usually doesn't do anything, and busted anything else on the mobo tends to break the system so far it can't beep).

Find test replacements for your RAM and video, and try booting with the new stuff.  If you have 2 sticks of RAM, try booting with only one at a time.

[hypernova]

wrote to asus.com...informed me it's a memory error.  now hopefully it's the stick itself like it should be.