[Griffo2008]

Basically, I was using my PC just fine, never had any problems with it before, and all of a sudden it crashed. So I turned it off at the mains, waited 30 seconds and went to turn it on. But now I get a sequence of beeps in the formation on:

beep beep beep, beep beep, beep beep beep beep. I don't know if this means anything, my monitor does not turn on either, it has power but it isn't booted from my tower.

Any help would be muchly appreciated, as I'm lost without my PC

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[Old Geezer]

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[Ztruker]

Sure sounds like a memory (RAM) problem. How much does your computer have and how ois it installed? By that I mean, is it one stick of RAM or two sticks?

If two, remove one and see what happens. If still bad, swap with the one still in the computer.

[hfcg]

Hello,
Can you tell us what kind of BIOS you have?
If not the motherboard or even computer make and model number will do.
If you have a phoenix BIOS the 3-2-4 beep code indicates a failed keyboard controler.
Here is a link to Phoenix beep code meanings.

[Griffo2008]

Hello,
Can you tell us what kind of BIOS you have?
If not the motherboard or even computer make and model number will do.
If you have a phoenix BIOS the 3-2-4 beep code indicates a failed keyboard controler.
Here is a link to Phoenix beep code meanings.

Thanks for the input guys. My computer is a Dell Dimension 4600. Hope this helps.

[hfcg]

This is from the Dell web site.
Please read the trouble shooting carfully, it may help you to diagnose where the problem is.
Contact Us; 1-800-915-3355 or Live Chat Cart


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Manuals



Back to Contents Page

Advanced Troubleshooting
Dell™ Dimension™ 4600 Series Service Manual

Diagnostic Lights

Beep Codes

System Messages



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Diagnostic Lights
To help you troubleshoot a problem, your computer is equipped with four lights on the back panel labeled "A," "B," "C," and "D." These lights can be yellow or green. When the computer starts normally, the lights flash. After the computer starts, the lights remain green. If the computer malfunctions, the color and sequence of the lights identify the problem.

CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the safety instructions in your Owner's Manual or Product Information Guide.

Light Pattern
Problem Description
Suggested Resolution


The computer is in a normal off condition or a possible pre-BIOS failure has occurred.
Verify that the computer is plugged into a working electrical outlet and that you have pressed the power button.


Memory modules are detected, but a memory failure has occurred.
If you have one memory module installed, reinstall it and restart the computer.
If you have two or more memory modules installed, remove the modules, reinstall one module, and then restart the computer. If the computer starts normally, reinstall an additional module. Continue until you have identified a faulty module or reinstalled all modules without error.
If available, install properly working memory of the same type into your computer.
If the problem persists, see "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's Manual for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.


A possible expansion card failure has occurred.
Determine if a conflict exists by removing a card (not the video card) and then restarting the computer.
If the problem persists, reinstall the card that you removed, remove a different card, and then restart the computer.
Repeat this process for each card. If the computer starts normally, troubleshoot the last card removed from the computer for resource conflicts (see "Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities" in your Owner's Manual).
If the problem persists, see "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's Manual for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.


A possible video card failure has occurred.
If the computer has a video card, remove the card and reinstall it, and restart the computer.
If the problem still exists, install a video card that you know works and restart the computer.
If the problem persists or the computer has integrated video, see "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's Manual for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.


A possible floppy or hard drive failure has occurred.
Reseat all power and data cables and restart the computer.


A possible USB failure has occurred.
Reinstall all USB devices, check cable connections, and then restart the computer.


No memory modules are detected.
Reinstall all memory modules and restart the computer.
To eliminate the possibility of a faulty memory connector, remove all memory modules, reinstall one memory module at a time (if the computer supports a single module), and then restart the computer. If the computer starts normally, move the memory module to a different connector and restart the computer. Continue until you have identified a faulty connector or reinstalled all modules without error.


Memory modules are detected, but a memory configuration or compatibility error exists.
Ensure that there are no special memory module/memory connector placement requirements.
Verify that the memory modules that you are installing are compatible with your computer.
If the problem persists, see "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's Manual for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.


A possible expansion card failure has occurred.
Determine if a conflict exists by removing a card and then restarting the computer.
If the problem persists, reinstall the cards that you removed, remove a different card, and then restart the computer.
Repeat this process for each card. If the computer starts normally, troubleshoot the last card removed from the computer for resource conflicts (see "Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities" in your Owner's Manual).
If the problem persists, see "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's Manual for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.


Other failure has occurred.
Ensure that the cables are properly connected from the hard drive, CD drive, and DVD drive to the system board.
If there is an error message on your screen identifying a problem with a device (such as the floppy drive or hard drive), check the device to make sure it is functioning properly.
The operating system is attempting to boot from a device (such as the floppy drive or hard drive); check system setup to make sure the boot sequence is correct for the devices installed on your computer.
If the problem persists, see "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's Manual for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.


The computer is in a normal operating condition after POST.
None.






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Beep Codes
Your computer might emit a series of beeps during start-up if the monitor cannot display errors or problems. This series of beeps, called a beep code, identifies a problem. One possible beep code (code 1-3-1) consists of one beep, a burst of three beeps, and then one beep. This beep code tells you that the computer encountered a memory problem.

Reseating the memory modules may fix the beep code errors in the following table. If the problem persists, see "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's Manual for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

Code
Cause

1-3-1 through 2-4-4
Memory not being properly identified or used

4-3-1
Memory failure above address 0FFFFh



If you hear one of the following beep codes, see "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's Manual for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

Code
Cause

1-1-2
Microprocessor register failure

1-1-3
NVRAM

1-1-4
ROM BIOS checksum failure

1-2-1
Programmable interval timer

1-2-2
DMA initialization failure

1-2-3
DMA page register read/write failure

3-1-1
Slave DMA register failure

3-1-2
Master DMA register failure

3-1-3
Master interrupt mask register failure

3-1-4
Slave interrupt mask register failure

3-2-2
Interrupt vector loading failure

3-2-4
Keyboard Controller Test failure

3-3-1
NVRAM power loss

3-3-2
NVRAM configuration

3-3-4
Video Memory Test failure

3-4-1
Screen initialization failure

3-4-2
Screen retrace failure

3-4-3
Search for video ROM failure

4-2-1
No time tick

4-2-2
Shutdown failure

4-2-3
Gate A20 failure

4-2-4
Unexpected interrupt in protected mode

4-3-3
Timer-chip counter 2 failure

4-3-4
Time-of-day clock stopped

4-4-1
Serial or parallel port test failure

4-4-4
Cache test failure




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System Messages
NOTE: If the message you received is not listed in the table, see the documentation for either the operating system or the program that was running when the message appeared.

Message
Possible Cause
Corrective Action

8042 Gate-A20 error
The keyboard controller failed its test.
If you receive this message after you make changes in system setup, enter system setup and restore the original value(s).

Address Line Short!
An error in the address decoding circuitry in the memory has occurred.
Reseat the memory modules.

C: Drive Error

C: Drive Failure
The hard drive is not working or is not configured correctly.
Ensure that the drive is installed correctly in the computer and defined correctly in system setup.

Cache Memory Bad, Do Not Enable Cache
The cache memory is not operating.
See "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's Manual for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

CH-2 Timer Error
An error is occurring on the timer on the system board.
See "Contacting Dell" in your Owner's Manual for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.

CMOS Battery State Low

CMOS Checksum Failure

CMOS System Options Not Set

CMOS Display Type Mismatch

CMOS Memory Size Mismatch

CMOS Time and Date Not Set
The system configuration information in system setup is incorrect or the battery charge may be low.
Enter system setup, verify the system configuration, and then restart the computer.

Diskette Boot Failure
Drive A or B is present but has failed the BIOS POST.
Ensure that the drive is installed correctly in the computer and defined correctly in system setup. Check the interface cable at both ends.

DMA Error

DMA 1 Error

DMA 2 Error
Error in the DMA controller on the system board.
The keyboard or system board may need to be replaced.

FDD Controller Failure

HDD Controller Failure
The BIOS cannot communicate with the floppy drive or hard drive controller.
Ensure that the floppy drive or the hard drive is installed correctly in the computer and defined correctly in system setup. Check the interface cable at both ends.

INTR1 Error

INTR2 Error
An interrupt channel on the system board failed to POST.
The keyboard or system board may need to be replaced.

Invalid Boot Diskette
The operating system cannot be located on drive A or drive C.
Enter system setup and confirm that drive A or drive C is properly identified.

Keyboard Error
The BIOS has detected a stuck key.
Ensure that nothing is resting on the keyboard; if a key appears to be stuck, carefully pry it up. If the problem persists, you may need to replace the keyboard.

KB/Interface Error
An error occurred with the keyboard connector.
Ensure that nothing is resting on the keyboard; if a key appears to be stuck, carefully pry it up. If the problem persists, you may need to replace the keyboard.

No ROM Basic
The operating system cannot be located on drive A or drive C.
Enter system setup and confirm that drive A or drive C is properly identified.




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[Griffo2008]

That's a superb, helpful post. Thanks so much. So according to the beep sequence, it is the keyboard controller. I don't know what to do about that? And would that really cause the computer not to enter the BIOS?

[Griffo2008]

I have got it working now. I don't know how. Something must have been lose in the motherboard. Thanks again for your time guys!!

[hfcg]

And would that really cause the computer not to enter the BIOS?

If your keyboard is not working you will not be able to enter BIOS.
The question that I have is, Can you enter BIOS now?