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mobo beeps

L

lenny109

Flightless Bird
Hi,
I have a Dell PC that has suddenly stopped working. When I try to start it I
get nothing except a series of beeps. It sounds like 6 beeps in a 1-2-1-2
configuration or it could be 3 beeps twice. What does that mean?
 
P

Percival P. Cassidy

Flightless Bird
On 01/23/10 02:37 pm, lenny109 wrote:

> I have a Dell PC that has suddenly stopped working. When I try to start it I
> get nothing except a series of beeps. It sounds like 6 beeps in a 1-2-1-2
> configuration or it could be 3 beeps twice. What does that mean?


Try checking the manual for that specific machine. I'm not sure that
there's any standard for beep codes.

Perce
 
J

Jose

Flightless Bird
On Jan 23, 2:37 pm, "lenny109" <le...@thetakeout.com> wrote:
> Hi,
> I have a Dell PC that has suddenly stopped working. When I try to start it I
> get nothing except a series of beeps. It sounds like 6 beeps in a 1-2-1-2
> configuration or it could be 3 beeps twice. What does that mean?


A Dell PC. Laptop, Desktop, model?

Look for manuals here:

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/my_systems_info/manuals?c=us&l=en&s=gen

Speculation based on limited information:

1 Short beep - System is operating normally.

1 Long beep - Memory refresh circuitry has failed which indicates a
problem with the motherboard. Try reseating the memory DIMM or SIMM
modules. Make sure if you have added memory that it is rated at the
correct speed for the system.

1 Long 2 Short beeps - The video adapter has failed, or the video
memory is having a read/write failure. Try reseating the video card.
If the video card is a PCI video card, try moving it to another slot.

1 Long 3 Short beeps - The system does not detect a monitor. Verify
that the monitor cable is properly attached to the video card or the
onboard video and to the monitor (if the monitor has a detachable
cable). If possible, try another monitor on the system to verify that
the video adapter is operating properly.

2 or 3 beeps - There is a problem with the system’s memory. Reseat the
memory DIMM or SIMM modules.

4 beeps - This indicates a non-functional timer. This indicates a
problem with the motherboard.

5 beeps - This indicates a CPU (Central Processing Unit or processor)
failure. Try reseating the processor.

6 beeps - This indicates a keyboard controller failure. Try reseating
the keyboard connector.

7 beeps - Another indication of a processor problem. Reseat the
processor.

8 beeps - This indicates a video memory read/write failure. Reseat the
video card (if any) and memory DIMM or SIMM
modules.

9 or 10 beeps - This indicates a ROM (Read-Only Memory) checksum error
or shutdown register failure. This indicates a defective BIOS chip(s).
Reseat the BIOS chips.
11 beeps - Indicates an error in the cache memory. If the system has a
Pentium class processor, reseat the processor. If the system has a
cache memory module, try reseating it. These beep codes will vary
depending on the system
 
J

jinxy

Flightless Bird
On Jan 23, 2:37 pm, "lenny109" <le...@thetakeout.com> wrote:
> Hi,
> I have a Dell PC that has suddenly stopped working. When I try to start it I
> get nothing except a series of beeps. It sounds like 6 beeps in a 1-2-1-2
> configuration or it could be 3 beeps twice. What does that mean?


You might double check your memory. Try removing and reseating it.
Sometimes a poor connection will cause problems.
Also try pulling the CMOS battery for 10 seconds or so, then reseat
it.
You can also go to the Dell website and use the FAQ's for your
system.
Hope this helps, good luck.
-J
 
J

Jose

Flightless Bird
On Jan 23, 2:37 pm, "lenny109" <le...@thetakeout.com> wrote:
> Hi,
> I have a Dell PC that has suddenly stopped working. When I try to start it I
> get nothing except a series of beeps. It sounds like 6 beeps in a 1-2-1-2
> configuration or it could be 3 beeps twice. What does that mean?


Here is another place that may help:

http://www.bioscentral.com/
 
L

lenny109

Flightless Bird
Thanks for the replies. I will reseat the RAM and the graphics card. In fact
this machine has an external graphics card and a built in one so I will
remove one.
"lenny109" <lenny@thetakeout.com> wrote in message
news:-5idnZUnqP27zcbWnZ2dnUVZ7vqdnZ2d@pipex.net...
> Hi,
> I have a Dell PC that has suddenly stopped working. When I try to start it
> I get nothing except a series of beeps. It sounds like 6 beeps in a
> 1-2-1-2 configuration or it could be 3 beeps twice. What does that mean?
>
 
A

Al

Flightless Bird
Beep codes are specific for the installed BIOS. Some codes are identical -
for instance the single beep at boot means a successful "POST" - Power on
self test. The codes for your computer should be available at Dell
support.
 
M

mm

Flightless Bird
On Sat, 23 Jan 2010 11:59:52 -0800 (PST), jinxy
<willandsue@rogers.com> wrote:

>On Jan 23, 2:37 pm, "lenny109" <le...@thetakeout.com> wrote:
>> Hi,
>> I have a Dell PC that has suddenly stopped working. When I try to start it I
>> get nothing except a series of beeps. It sounds like 6 beeps in a 1-2-1-2
>> configuration or it could be 3 beeps twice. What does that mean?

>
> You might double check your memory. Try removing and reseating it.
>Sometimes a poor connection will cause problems.
> Also try pulling the CMOS battery for 10 seconds or so, then reseat
>it.


Before he does this, I think he should look at the bios settings to
remind himself if he customized any, and what he did, so he can do it
again after the defaults are restored (by removing the battery).

> You can also go to the Dell website and use the FAQ's for your
>system.
> Hope this helps, good luck.
>-J
 
P

Paul

Flightless Bird
Jose wrote:
> On Jan 23, 2:37 pm, "lenny109" <le...@thetakeout.com> wrote:
>> Hi,
>> I have a Dell PC that has suddenly stopped working. When I try to start it I
>> get nothing except a series of beeps. It sounds like 6 beeps in a 1-2-1-2
>> configuration or it could be 3 beeps twice. What does that mean?

>
> Here is another place that may help:
>
> http://www.bioscentral.com/


I even found a page with Dell beep codes, but 1-2-1-2 isn't there.

http://www.bioscentral.com/postcodes/dellbios.htm

Phoenix beep codes have four digit values, but again, the 1-2-1-2
"Load alternative registers with initial POST values" isn't meaningful.

http://www.bioscentral.com/beepcodes/phoenixbeep.htm

Some Dell boxes have four diagnostic LEDs and if there is a code
showing on the four LEDs, you can look that up and get a better answer.
The Dell web page for one of those computers, will have a document
with a table of values.

Paul
 
D

David B.

Flightless Bird
How exactly do you review your BIOS settings if the PC won't POST?

--


--
"mm" <NOPSAMmm2005@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
news:kosml5dbv0kaol0qsmcersk97hbk5p24n2@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 23 Jan 2010 11:59:52 -0800 (PST), jinxy
> <willandsue@rogers.com> wrote:
>
>>On Jan 23, 2:37 pm, "lenny109" <le...@thetakeout.com> wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>> I have a Dell PC that has suddenly stopped working. When I try to start
>>> it I
>>> get nothing except a series of beeps. It sounds like 6 beeps in a
>>> 1-2-1-2
>>> configuration or it could be 3 beeps twice. What does that mean?

>>
>> You might double check your memory. Try removing and reseating it.
>>Sometimes a poor connection will cause problems.
>> Also try pulling the CMOS battery for 10 seconds or so, then reseat
>>it.

>
> Before he does this, I think he should look at the bios settings to
> remind himself if he customized any, and what he did, so he can do it
> again after the defaults are restored (by removing the battery).
>
>> You can also go to the Dell website and use the FAQ's for your
>>system.
>> Hope this helps, good luck.
>>-J

>
 
T

Twayne

Flightless Bird
In news:%23KpmDuEoKHA.4628@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl,
David B. <mail@nomail.net> typed:
> How exactly do you review your BIOS settings if the PC won't POST?


The beeps come from the BIOS checks and whether it's the POST or not I'm not
sure of, but if youy get error beeps, there is nothing to indicate that POST
ran or didn't run. It probably is the POST, but many would think it didn't
run because the beeps happen almost as fast as you turn on the power switch.
I'd say it's a minor detail that doesn't matter to anything.

A trip to the computer mfr's website usually will tellyou what the beeps
mean; e.g. which piece of hardware is likely having problems.

HTH,

Twayne




>
> --
>
>
>> On Sat, 23 Jan 2010 11:59:52 -0800 (PST), jinxy
>> <willandsue@rogers.com> wrote:
>>
>>> On Jan 23, 2:37 pm, "lenny109" <le...@thetakeout.com> wrote:
>>>> Hi,
>>>> I have a Dell PC that has suddenly stopped working. When I try to
>>>> start it I
>>>> get nothing except a series of beeps. It sounds like 6 beeps in a
>>>> 1-2-1-2
>>>> configuration or it could be 3 beeps twice. What does that mean?
>>>
>>> You might double check your memory. Try removing and reseating it.
>>> Sometimes a poor connection will cause problems.
>>> Also try pulling the CMOS battery for 10 seconds or so, then reseat
>>> it.

>>
>> Before he does this, I think he should look at the bios settings to
>> remind himself if he customized any, and what he did, so he can do it
>> again after the defaults are restored (by removing the battery).
>>
>>> You can also go to the Dell website and use the FAQ's for your
>>> system.
>>> Hope this helps, good luck.
>>> -J
 
D

David B.

Flightless Bird
Why are you telling me? I know what the beeps are for.

Let me help you understand, the OP said "I have a Dell PC that has suddenly
stopped working. When I try to start it I
get nothing except a series of beeps".

mm came up with the ingenious idea to check the BIOS "I think he should look
at the bios settings to
remind himself if he customized any"

I was asking mm how the OP would access and review his BIOS settings if the
PC does not POST.

--


--
"Twayne" <nobody@spamcop.net> wrote in message
news:-OrlRciQoKHA.4836@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> In news:%23KpmDuEoKHA.4628@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl,
> David B. <mail@nomail.net> typed:
>> How exactly do you review your BIOS settings if the PC won't POST?

>
> The beeps come from the BIOS checks and whether it's the POST or not I'm
> not sure of, but if youy get error beeps, there is nothing to indicate
> that POST ran or didn't run. It probably is the POST, but many would think
> it didn't run because the beeps happen almost as fast as you turn on the
> power switch. I'd say it's a minor detail that doesn't matter to anything.
>
> A trip to the computer mfr's website usually will tellyou what the beeps
> mean; e.g. which piece of hardware is likely having problems.
>
> HTH,
>
> Twayne
>
>
>
>
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>>> On Sat, 23 Jan 2010 11:59:52 -0800 (PST), jinxy
>>> <willandsue@rogers.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Jan 23, 2:37 pm, "lenny109" <le...@thetakeout.com> wrote:
>>>>> Hi,
>>>>> I have a Dell PC that has suddenly stopped working. When I try to
>>>>> start it I
>>>>> get nothing except a series of beeps. It sounds like 6 beeps in a
>>>>> 1-2-1-2
>>>>> configuration or it could be 3 beeps twice. What does that mean?
>>>>
>>>> You might double check your memory. Try removing and reseating it.
>>>> Sometimes a poor connection will cause problems.
>>>> Also try pulling the CMOS battery for 10 seconds or so, then reseat
>>>> it.
>>>
>>> Before he does this, I think he should look at the bios settings to
>>> remind himself if he customized any, and what he did, so he can do it
>>> again after the defaults are restored (by removing the battery).
>>>
>>>> You can also go to the Dell website and use the FAQ's for your
>>>> system.
>>>> Hope this helps, good luck.
>>>> -J

>
>
 
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