Re: System failure, no video, strange beeps

John wrote:
On Fri, 7 Dec 2007 18:56:21 -0500, "RobV" <robv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:


BIOS beep codes listed here.
http://bioscentral.com/beepcodes/awardbeep.htm

Read the beep codes and find the one that most resembles what you
hear to determine the problem.

From your description of what the system does, I would say the CPU is
overheating, probably due to dust build up, or CPU fan not spinning,
or spinning slowly.

How long since you've opened it up and used canned air to really
clean the dust from the heatsink fins, the fan and anywhere else
inside?


Hi, Rob

No, it wasn't an overheating problem, or a video problem. the beep
code page gave me the hint I needed:

"Repeating (endless loop): Memory Error"

I took out the memory stick from slot 2 and the system posted but
indicated an "overclocking failure" (AFAIK the system has never been
overclocked). Then I took the stick out of slot 1 and but the slot 2
stick in there and again it posted, this time without error, and
started to boot windows. Then I put the first stick back in the
second slot, so all the memory was back in place, though swapped.
Turned it on, it posted without error, booted, and was happy. Go
figure.

I'm surprised that a memory failure caused the symptoms it did -- the
shut down and restart, and the complete lack of any video signal. Is
that typical, in your experience?

And as to the dust, I gave it a thorough cleaning about 2 or 3 months
ago. I found it pretty dirty at the time and I actually took the
cooler off the CPU, took the fan off the heatsink, washed the
heatsink, cleaned the fan, and put the whole thing back together.
Cleaned out all the rest of the dust in the box, too. And it's still
pretty clean.

Thanks for the help. Even though the diagnosis wasn't the right one,
you pointed me to where to find the answer.


Reply-to address is real
John

Excellent! Glad I helped point to where the problem was. That's
usually how troubleshooting goes. Sometimes you just need a hint, then
follow it through. My first thought was that it was bad memory, but the
constant beeping is usually a sign of overheating.

In any event, the problem was found. And, your troubleshooting method
was right on in finding it. Good job!


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: System failure, no video, strange beeps
    ... Read the beep codes and find the one that most resembles what you hear ... the dust from the heatsink fins, the fan and anywhere else inside? ... "Repeating: Memory Error" ...
    (alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus)
  • Re: System failure, no video, strange beeps
    ... How long since you've opened it up and used canned air to really clean the dust from the heatsink fins, the fan and anywhere else inside? ... "Repeating: Memory Error" ... I'm surprised that a memory failure caused the symptoms it did -- the ...
    (alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus)
  • Re: sudden blue screen
    ... Likely causes are overheating or a bad stick or memory. ... and verify the fan on the CPU is running. ... Verify the fan on your power ... They also could be filled with a lot of dust. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: help
    ... choices and found the RAM memory test option and ran it, ... second later that the DIMM RAM chip showed error after error. ... I would bet that the fan ... > inspection, and swapped suspected parts around, and got no boot ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Problem reinstalling Windows - think its a hardware issue
    ... windows, but it says setup cannot copy the file:xxx. ... this and it points to memory errors. ... In my BIOS it says my psu fan speed is about 750 rpm, ... The fact that my pc keeps blue screening and I can't reinstall ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)