please help, computer won't boot

[jamerdean]

I have a compaq deskpro en 1 gig cpu, 128 meg ram, 20 gig hd (maxtor), this is a replace hd, the old one was damaged.

this is what is happening:

turn on computer and it will spin up the hd and beep one time if the keyboard is not plugged in. The integrated video card will not read the monitor. if the keyboard is plugged in, the computer will beep several times and then just sit there, the keyboard number key light just blinks, and still no read of the monitor. could this be a ram problem, mb problem or cpu problem? any help would be appreciated.

thanks for the help

jam

 

[w00t]

look at what that means in ur owners manual.

 

[jamerdean]

um . . owner's manual?

 

[Rike]

Is this a PS/2 keyboard? Some older machines filp out if the keyboard is plugged into the mouse PS/2 port.

Also, open your BIOS and reload the defualt settings. See what happens.

 

[jamerdean]

Originally posted by: Rike
Is this a PS/2 keyboard? Some older machines filp out if the keyboard is plugged into the mouse PS/2 port.

Also, open your BIOS and reload the defualt settings. See what happens.

it is a ps2 keyboard and cant get to bios

 

[Rike]

Nothing happens when you hit "Delete" right after the machine POSTs? That's odd that you can't get into the BIOS. And the keyboard is in the keyboard plug. (It's simple but it can keep system from booting properly.

OK, more info needed. What were you doing with the system before it started giving to trouble?

 

[Rike]

I think I found the manual for your system.

Link to .PDF File
On page 189, it gives you the meaing of the Power-On messages and the "Beep/Keyboard LED Codes." Which one(s) are you getting?

 

[jamerdean]

base memory failure?
or video graphics failure?

got to hook it up again to see. but i think that it was the number lock button flashing.

if so, can i install a graphics card and disable the onboard one?

 

[Rike]

Originally posted by: jamerdean
base memory failure?
or video graphics failure?

got to hook it up again to see. but i think that it was the number lock button flashing.

if so, can i install a graphics card and disable the onboard one?

If the manual I linked to is the right one for your computer, the graphics is already a card in the AGP slot. (Page 36) You should be able to pull the old card and put a new card in.

 

[jamerdean]

the graphics card is integrated. what is base memory

 

[Rike]

Base Memory

I have no idea what that means for trouble shooting your system. I'm quickly getting out of my depth, in case you couldn't tell.

Maybe some else can pitch in?

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: jamerdean
I have a compaq deskpro en 1 gig cpu, 128 meg ram, 20 gig hd (maxtor), this is a replace hd, the old one was damaged.

this is what is happening:

turn on computer and it will spin up the hd and beep one time if the keyboard is not plugged in. The integrated video card will not read the monitor. if the keyboard is plugged in, the computer will beep several times and then just sit there, the keyboard number key light just blinks, and still no read of the monitor. could this be a ram problem, mb problem or cpu problem? any help would be appreciated.

thanks for the help

jam

yes your owners manual find out what that one beep means.

 

[jamerdean]

its the base memory error. basically from my research, i found out that base memory is incorporated into the motherboard. ie. french fried motherboard . looks like a new case and a piii motherboard . I did check the ram and the cpu and the hd. all check out fine.

thanks for all of your hard work.

jam

 

[Rike]

Hmmm . . . bummer. But this could be an opportunity for an upgrade. I'll bet that Compaq is in a proprietary case and is not a standard ATX mobo. It might be a problem finding parts that will fit. Anyway, good luck getting it up and running again.

 

[TwoBills]

Don't know if this applies, but I just replaced the mobo on a HP pavillion machine and ran into this problem: The new mobo has to be tatooed by a HP rep. (BB/CC, etc.) in order for the system restore disks to work. This costs $100. So you might want to calculate the cost of an OEM os into a mobo replacement.

 

[jamerdean]

thx for the heads up
jam