Computer won't boot! Beeps three times.

[MikaV]

When booting my computer beeps three times instead of the usual beep and refuses to boot, no signal to display or other boot activity. Everything else seems to be running, fans, cd-rom etc.

My motherboard manual doesn't state what the three beeps mean.

AGP 4x and memory led is active as usual.

Haven't added any new hardware in recent time except a new display (Viewsonic P95F+).

Computer doesn't boot @ 1800+ either.


Athlon XP 1800+ @ 2000+ (tbreed b)
DFI KA75+ (KT133A)
1x 256 MB Pc133
Inno3d GeForce 2 gts
Maxtor D740 (something) 60 gig
Win2k Pro

(I'll try to remove hardware later when I get back home from work to see if I can isolate the error.)

 

[r0tt3n1]

What type of beeps? 3 short or 1 long 2 short? If it is 1 long 2 short then it is a video probelm. Remove the vid card, clean contacts and reseat firmly. If 3 short beeps, probably a memory error. Remove memory, clean and reseat firmly.

Welcome to the forums!

Good luck

 

[MikaV]

I'll try that later tonight, thanx alot.
Can't believe I haven't been to this forum before, it's great.

 

[HKSturboKID]

Most likely memory error. I got the same thing, after resitting the memory like 20 times it finally work. On some Motherboard, you have to really press it in for it to detect the memory.

 

[MikaV]

20 times?

I'd give up after 2

I'll try that too, thanx.

 

[Fallen Kell]

You can also try looking on the motherboard manufacturer's website for the beep codes. They usually have the complete listing of error codes on an online document for the motherboard.

 

[Bacinator]

Yeah, I've had memory seating problems too. They suck. If it is memory, pull out the sticks, line them up in thier slots without pressing down, press down gently to line it up, then push very firmly with two hands (one on each end of memory), until both sides of memory audibly "click/snap" into place. After doing all sticks, make sure the clips which hold the memory, are perfectly aligned with each other, INCLUDING empty memory slots.

Kinda odd to have a memory problem without having added memory, or not accessing inside of case.

If memory troubleshooting fails, start removing devices one by one, remembering where they are. This takes load off PSU (unlikely suspect), my last problem ended up being a HDD causing BIOS POST to reset. I still dont know HOW it caused that fault, but it did. (See PoS ECS wont post in this forum)

Good Luck.

 

[mundane]

I triple [quadruple?] the memory suggestion. I was a complete idiot when putting together my current machine, and the memory wasn't seated properly, etc, got the three beeps (different brand of motherboard, though). Took me a while to figure it out, and had to be much more forceful putting the sticks in than I am comfortable with, to the point where I consider myself lucky I didn't crack the board.

Of course, as Bacinator mentioned, this is quite a puzzle if there has been no tinkering going on inside the machine ... for the heck of it, I read over the DFI pdf for your MB (the AK-75EC?), and of course, they said absolutely nothing about the error tone-codes =). Good luck, sorry I can't be of any more help.

Edit: I just found this link provided by "oniq" on another thread. Depending on your BIOS type, this might shed some light on things: Computer Port Beep Codes

 

[Bacinator]

HOOORAY!!!

Good number crunching to you!