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Please help - my sister is on the phone with computer problem! :(

angelcake
angelcake Posts: 4,496 Forumite
in Techie Stuff
Hi, My sister has just phoned me, she has just got her computer back from a friend - he had it to fix a sound card - put a new one. she has just wired it up and switched it on and now the screen is blank and an alarm is sounding! she really need this as she is going through her exams and her coursework is all on there! she needed it for revision tonight!!
:p:p Angel :p:p
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Comments

  • fwor
    fwor Posts: 6,888 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I know this is going to sound unhelpful, but there is some logic to it:

    Would your sister not be better off phoning the friend that fitted the soundcard? It sounds like the best initial step would be to remove what he installed, and he would be in the best position to talk your sister through removing it.

    Other possibilities (assuming Sis has wired it up correctly) are that the friend may have dislodged a cable when putting it back together, or that a memory module may have shaken loose in transit and needs re-seating.

    It would be interesting to hear whether she can get into the BIOS setup screen when the PC boots up (depends on make, but usually hitting DEL or F2 as it starts).
  • angelcake
    angelcake Posts: 4,496 Forumite
    Its not unhelpful! thanks for taking the time to reply!

    I know what you mean I suggested that but the friend is a friend of mums who she hasn't the tel number for!? who just pops over now and then for a cuppa!

    apparently its just blank when she loads it up! nothing comes on the screen! if I go over there tomorrow and have a look what can I do/look at to help her?
    :p:p Angel :p:p
  • evilgoose
    evilgoose Posts: 532 Forumite
    to add to the above - if its beeping - that as strange as it seems is good - as it means the system isnt dead and 'posting'; those beeps actually mean something, the beeps take the pattern of either a 'long beep' or a 'short beep'. to a sequence of three beeps*, if you can find what the sequence is you'll be able to (should be able) to tell what the problem is.

    *depending on the m-board maker.
  • mitchg
    mitchg Posts: 382 Forumite
    Mortgage-free Glee!
    is it a desktop pc or laptop. And if its a desktop pc the little led on the monitor is it orange or green?
    :hello: Lets all save a £ or two, lets all earn a £ or two, and lets all enjoy spending that £ or two wisely.
    :beer:
  • albertross_2
    albertross_2 Posts: 8,932 Forumite
    Did the friend remove the ram?

    http://www.freebsddiary.org/images/dual-opteron/large/dual-opteron-mb-ram.jpg
    Ever get the feeling you are wasting your time? :rolleyes:
  • bookduck
    bookduck Posts: 1,136 Forumite
    I bet bet something has wiggled loose in transport.
    GOOGLE it before you ask, you'll often save yourself a lot of time. ;)
  • angelcake
    angelcake Posts: 4,496 Forumite
    she said it was green I think
    and it was a few beeps maybe 3 at a time! sorry to be vague, I can't take my laptop over there as there is no internet connection!
    its a pain as I can't get her back on the phone she is only 15 so will prob be asleep now.
    why would he have moved the ram? it was to install a sound card I think!....

    thanks
    :p:p Angel :p:p
  • mitchg
    mitchg Posts: 382 Forumite
    Mortgage-free Glee!
    If its green then that means she has connected the cable to the monitor ok green means signal live orange means no video signal so its not that connection. It could be a power cable loose or no connection to the hard drive.
    :hello: Lets all save a £ or two, lets all earn a £ or two, and lets all enjoy spending that £ or two wisely.
    :beer:
  • albertross_2
    albertross_2 Posts: 8,932 Forumite
    The beeps and motherboard are important, they will indicate the issue, possibly loose or missing ram or processor. The data should still be there on the hard disk, unless the friend has wiped it,
    Ever get the feeling you are wasting your time? :rolleyes:
  • vgopal
    vgopal Posts: 101 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    open it up and check everything is seated correctly.
    mainly the ram and graphics card.
    Waddle you do eh?
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