By Doby

BIOS beep codes

1- Make sure you have a case speaker connected, if you are getting 1 long continuous beep this indicates the system can’t find usable ram, reseat the ram, try different ram or try the ram in a different dimm slot

2- 1 long 2 short indicates video error reseat the video card, try another video card


Nothing on the screen with no beeps


1-Make sure the hs (heatsink) is installed properly, tight with thermal paste applied
2-Make sure the cpu fan is connected to the correct header on the motherboard
3-Clear the cmos by unplugging the computer removing the battery then move the clear cmos jumper from pins 1&2 to 2&3 for 10 minutes
4-Replace the battery and move the jumper back to pins 1&2
5-Verify all motherboard jumpers are set correctly
6-Verify all case connections are correct ( case switch ect.)
7-Verify the power supplies 20/24 pin and 4pin 12v are tightly seated to the motherboard

Still won’t go


1-Remove all drives and cards except the video, remove front sound and usb
2-Repeat the above
3-The idea here is to get the computer to post and boot into bios if after doing so you are able to get into bios let the computer idle in bios for a while and watch the temps and voltages.
4-If everything appears normal load the bios defaults and make sure to save and exit
5-Now add the drives and install windows then add the remaining cards


Still won’t go


1-Remove the motherboard from the case and place on a piece of cardboard
2-Install only the cpu with hsf, 1 stick ram in dimm 1, psu, video card, case switch and case speaker
3-Connect ps2 mouse and keyboard along with the monitor
4-Repeat the above and power on
5-If the computer now boots into bios you most likely had a case short so make sure when installing the motherboard in the case that you use standoffs and they line up with the mounting holes in the motherboard and none of the standoffs touch anything else on the underside of the board.


If all the above fails to produce a post start a topic in the Geeks to Go hardware forum explaining what you have done and listing your full system specs

I was just wondering is it possible to put an older hardrive into a new build PC and boot the operating system off it. Then transfer the contents to a new drive and reboot from the new hard drive instead of the old one. I'm going to be building a new one fro the first time and im not sure if i ca it would make life easier if i could.

This post has been edited by warriorscot: Jun 1 2005, 06:48 AM

warriorscot

The answer is not a good idea, the older hdd (hard drive) should work fine but the existing operating system would contain drivers that would conflict with the new system so when ever building new a fresh copy of windows is needed.

However after you build and install windows on a new drive in your new system you could then install the old drive as a slave and get your stuff off of it.

Rick

Thanks alot , i had been wondering about it for a while it is the wee stuff like that causes all the worries.

This post has been edited by warriorscot: Feb 8 2006, 12:52 PM

Yur welcome,

And don't worry to much thats what we are her for,if you have any questions I would start a new topic though because more people will see it and respond quicker

Rick

GOOD ARTICLE!!!

I hope you do not mind, but I referred: "kelleydm" to read your article

Has 2 posts w/problems on computer builds . .on 1st page of HARDWARE .. . .

Again . . . .GOOD - Well organized . . . . Well planned . . . .Article!

Jack123

Hi Jack123,

Sorry for the late reply, was away for awhile. Thanks glad the artical is usefull and by all means refer to it anytime!

Because of being away I didn't get a chance to review kelleydm's problem but I hope it helped

Rick

You need to "sticky" this in the "System Building and Overclocking" also




PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!

sorry wrong post

This post has been edited by fioreskater: Aug 22 2005, 08:46 PM

wow, I didn't know that the computer beeps could really tell you anything... dang, I have put dozens of computers together, but have generally just gone one trial and error when it didn't start or had problems...

I guess you learn something new everyday!!

I need your help, can you help me please?

I builded my own pc, it works fine and plays great.
A neighbour of mine asked me if I could build her a pc too, i thought i could do that. She bought the stuff I selected and i got my parts. Soon after i finished building, i started installing. Nothing on screen exept for check cable connection. I checked it, i put my videocard in again. Nothing. I tested the videocard in my pc, works fine. I tested the monitor, works fine. I removed everything from the mainboard exept for the videocard, processor, psu, powerswitch and pcspeaker: nothing. I reinstalled the cpu and heatsink. nothing.


Im getting kinda despared, i hope you can help my. Im afraid to reset bios/cmos for its a new mainboard and i dont wanna mess with it.

Please help me

Feroxz

Ps. forgive me my english, for i am dutch

edit: system specs: Amd sempron 2800+ 64bit, asus k8v-x se, 1x 512 ddr oem, asus N6200 256mb, maxtor 160gb diamond max.

This post has been edited by feroxz: Nov 29 2005, 02:35 PM

Do the fans start up or not?

If you want fast help post a new topic.

This post has been edited by Dragons119: May 22 2006, 05:16 PM

Speaking as a newb who is looking for help, I think this topic deserves to be "stickied" to the top. Nice generic help that does not rely on specific hardware or software problems.

The initial post answers many questions that are repeated numerous times else where on these boards.

Thank You very much Doby!!! (or maybe gerryf ???)

This post has been edited by KeythF: Jun 13 2006, 11:55 PM

This is the sticky, they were all stickied at the top of respective boards but have all been moved to make the boards tidier, before posting all members should look in here and search the forum for similar problems.

what does it mean if your motherboard does two long beeps?