[jjm006]

Hello -

I offered to fix a coworker's son's PC, and thought that it was a simply spyware/adware job. Unfortunately, there seems to be more hardware problems.

When I first got the PC, I tried MSCONFIG with a limited startup, and found the PC freezing (literally, everything just freezes - no blue screen or restart). I tried a few basic software utilities (Everest, etc.) without success. The freezing seemed independent of any action taken on the PC.

I tried to swap out the harddrive with a known working hd, and was surprised - I started the PC, and got 3 longish beeps. I have googled this, and it suggested memory problems. Does anyone know more about this? I replaced the original hd without success.

How would you troubleshoot this?

Thanks much -

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"one long two short?" What are the exact audio beeps?

[GeneralAres]

"one long two short?" What are the exact audio beeps?

[jjm006]

Three long - they are probably about one second long each. If you leave it on, after the first three, it pauses for like 5 seconds, then does 3 more, and so on indefinitely.

[GeneralAres]

Is it an IBM? If not what brand is it or do you know the model mainboard? Also double check the audio codes. Turn it off and from a cold boot, write down all audio codes (long or short) from a cold boot and any pauses. Three repetitions should be enough. Long are about a second or so, short are less then half a second. A repetition is a combination of codes followed by a pause.

I suspect it might be 3 - 3 - 4 or something like that.

Edited by GeneralAres, 03 August 2005 - 06:20 AM.

[dsenette]

if you do suspect its the memory try : http://www.memtest86.com/
test one stick at a time

[jjm006]

I am pretty certain it is 3 long. Tonight I am going to pop it open and check the motherboard, and I will repost.

I can't run a memtest, unfortunately, since the PC won't load at all.

[Doby]

Try the ram in a different slot, also if possible try another known working stick of ram

Rick