[rustyagain]

Computer is a 2 year old Dell Dimension belonging to my father in law.
He complained that every thing was running slow and on inspection every thing was.
Took 10 minutes to start and was unable to open any programs to check foe spyware or malware etc.
Decided to reload the operating system using the supplied Dell Disk. All started OK till windows’ started to load and took 18 hours. On finally getting the green meadows of XP it froze up, on trying to re-boot 2 bleeps with the instruction to press F2 for a re-boot etc etc
any help gladly received

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What was the error message before instructing to press F2?

Run some diagnostics on the system by turning on the system and pressing F12. Go over to diagnostics run a custom test on memory and a custom test with HDD. Tell me the error codes that you get.

[anzenketh]

What was the error message before instructing to press F2?

Run some diagnostics on the system by turning on the system and pressing F12. Go over to diagnostics run a custom test on memory and a custom test with HDD. Tell me the error codes that you get.

[rustyagain]

Thanks for reply
No Error message – just two bleeps, black screen with white print to “press F2 to
re-boot
Am thinking of trying to reload XP again but why did the first attempt take 18 hours ?

[megabite]

2 short beeps can be a post error.....try re-seating everything on the board

How much memory does it have installed??

Edited by Bonk, 14 May 2007 - 08:11 AM.

[anzenketh]

It taking 18 hours to install is generally a bad thing could be one of a few things that is causing the problem all of them Hardware.

Try running those diagnostic tests. I forgot what Bios Dell uses you will have to catch me on a Tuesday-Saturday to answer that. 2 beeps I think it is memory. Press F2 and compare how much memory is recognized with how much is suppose to be in the system.

What is the Model of the Dell Dimension I might be able to help ya out a bit better with that information.

[rustyagain]

Memory is only 250 (I think)
Have just started to try and reinstall windows. So far it has accepted the CD
and allowed me to remove the partions, it is at present formatting the sole
partion - would a POST error allow this ?

[rustyagain]

Computer is a Dell Dimension 2400, Celeron processer 2400, 40gb hard drive and memery od 250 (I think)
I will check the inner workings the next time it crashes and can switch it off

[anzenketh]

Try running diagnostics on the memory see what you come up with. If you can not navigate the Dell Built in diagnostics then Download burn to a cd boot to that cd and run Memtest86 from the link in my signature.

[megabite]

256MB Memory is the basic amount needed for XP.......if the memory is failing then this could be causing this problem......if you have any Ram about that would fit that PC would tells us a lot.

Edited by Bonk, 14 May 2007 - 08:36 AM.

[rustyagain]

Have found and tried the supplied Dell diagnostic CD with following errors
1 Error code 0700:0120
No cache detected. Cashe might be disabled, defective or not present

2 System error illegal attempt to disable INTEL ICH SMI with out restoring
original values first

Any help please, How to check replace the cashe and what is the INTEL

thanks

[zbd]

Same problem resolved here.

http://forums.techgu...-cache-not.html