Dear SK,
bad flash on the BadAxe--not so good.
The Bax Axe owner's manual, here called the "Technical Product Specification":
http://download.intel.com/design/motherbd/bx2/D7364501US.pdf
Page 89: three beeps: memory error.
There is a new May 23 2007 BIOS here:
http://downloadmirror.intel.com/13467/ENG/BX2_2747_ReleaseNotes.pdf
Link to BIOS update instructions:
http://downloadmirror.intel.com/13467/ENG/BIOS%20Update%20Readme.pdf
Recommendation:
1) Get a floppy drive; you don't need to install it in your case, you can just take the side panel off your case, hook up the flat cable and power cable to the floppy drive, use it, then remove it when you are done.
2) Clear the CMOS: do the clear CMOS jumper, page 70--from what I read in the manual, it looks like putting the jumper on 2-3 clears the CMOS. However, I would also take out the CMOS battery for a few hours--just to clear everything out of CMOS memory.
3) The three beep code you got was "memory error". Before reflashing the BIOS, it would be best to put in one stick of known, tested, good RAM; speed of it does not matter, just that it is tested and good. (Do you have another PC you can use to run Memtest for several passes, then take that memory stick and use it in the BX2 to flash the BIOS? Flashing with a bad memory module is a recipe for disaster, and, since you have had one bad flash so far, a flaky memory module could account for that.
4) After CMOS memory clear, and known good stick of RAM in PC, reflash BIOS using the floppy: follow the floppy disk recovery instructions:
http://downloadmirror.intel.com/13349/ENG/BIOS%20Update%20Readme.pdf
The BIOS file is less than 1MB, so it will fit on a floppy.
After this, you should have the newest BIOS file installed.
5) I would install all your memory, then run Memtest for several hours, just to make sure your RAM is OK.
Then, I would recommend a complete reinstall of Windows: sorry, but, if you are going for complete system stability, I do think this will be worth the time, as the first install is obviously sort of hosed up: recommend the following install order, to make sure all your software drivers are installed in the best order:
***quote***
I found the following suggested install sequence somewhere on the web,
and can't find it again, otherwise I would reference and credit the site.
The order is based on ?Layering?, with the software installation order
based on its importance and permanence:
1) Windows with services packs
2) Chipset driver
3) Direct X (Microsoft.com)
4) Video driver
5) Sound card or onboard sound driver
6) USB driver (if needed?included in SP2)
7) Network card drivers (if not included in chipset driver above)
a) Wireless network card driver
8) Keyboard, mouse drivers/software, if needed
9) Windows security patches and updates
10) Microsoft Office and patches
11) After this, begin with most important applications, ones least
likely to be removed, continuing on to least likely.
12) End with Antivirus/antispyware applications and their updates.
Good luck, HTH,
NXIL
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