Bleeps

windym_2

Hi, our PC was working fine, but when I turned it on this morning it doesnt even load anything, just gives three little beeps.

The screen says 'no signal'.

I have checked all the cabels but I think the thing is not even booting up. Is there anything I can do (not overly techinical). Thanks.

Browntoa

you need to open the pc I'm afriad

last time this happend to me I need to blow out all the dust then unplug and plug back in the RAM and the Graphics card (if you have a seperate one)

you will need a screwdriver to undo the small screw on the graphics card


there is a list here of what the beeps mean

http://www.pchell.com/hardware/beepcodes.shtml

Browntoa

here is how to open the cover

http://www.helpwithpcs.com/upgrading/remove-case-covers.htm

how to remove/replace ram

http://www.ehow.com/how_895_install-ram.html

same for the graphics (and any other) cards

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=%2Fdirectory%2Fworldwide%2Fen-gb%2Fgraphicscard.asp

just unplug and plug straight back in, also make sure all the cables are plugged in

wolfman

windym wrote:

Hi, our PC was working fine, but when I turned it on this morning it doesnt even load anything, just gives three little beeps.

The screen says 'no signal'.

I have checked all the cabels but I think the thing is not even booting up. Is there anything I can do (not overly techinical). Thanks.

Check the motherboard manual, or if you don't have it, find out the make of motherboard and download the manual.

The beeps (how many, and there length) define what's wrong. For example if there is something wrong with the graphics card it may do one long beep, an exmaple though. You'll need to find the manual and it'll tell you what's wrong.

Good idea to clean away any just too like mentioned above.

windym_2

Thanks very much, I will do all this whilst the rain pours down outside!

I shall come back to this thread to post my results (however terrifying).

windym_2

Well I have done a spring clean and removed about 1 ton of dust. I took out as many bits as I could and removed dust.

Now machine, just gives two short beeps - which looking at your link page shows the RAM as bad. I have no idea what to do now as wouldnt even know where to start. Don't know what RAM the pc has (as I can't boot it up) and cannot find manuals etc.

Any easy ideas?

Rex_Mundi

The beeps are telling you that there is a problem with hardware. You really need your manual, to be able to tell what the beeps mean. Different length of beeps. Or a different number of beeps means different things to different computers. This should tell you in the manual.

What computer do you have?

Browntoa

did you have 2 lots of ram ??

might be worth taking one out and trying with just the one in....leave the cover off while you are turning on and offas we don't know the motherboard and cannot tell you which is the first slot...try one Ram in both slots and see if it boots up..then try with the other and see ..you may find that one ram set is faulty

if it still does not boot up then as Rex says we need to know the motherboard

article here on how to identify it

http://www.pcnineoneone.com/howto/moboid1.html

windym_2

The PC is a Gateway (please don't sigh) G6-400. Other than that I cannot say. I have tried the Gateway website which was apalling.

It does have two lots of ram so I will do as you suggest. Get back shortly. Thanks both of you.

It's still raining.

Browntoa

Gateway G6-400
Quote Date: 10/18/98
$2721

Processor: GenuineIntel Pentium(R) II 398 MHz mdB0
Math Support: On Chip
BIOS: Phoenix Technologies
Memory: 384 MB (68% Utilized)
Hard Disks: 37.28 GB, 9.50 GB
Video: 800x600 in 32-Bit Color, XPERT 98

so assuming 2 beeps as you said and a phoenix bios then it is Ram as you suspected

windym_2

I have just done the 'one in one out then change over' with the ram - still two beeps apart from when one ram in lower slot,machine went beserk - 6 bleeps. Having looked at the ram, one is just blocks (sorry that is my techincal speak) on oneside and the other appears to have it on both sides.
Ive done some research on the m/b and all I found via that website was

MB RC440BX P/N 4000431 AUDIO/VIDEO REV AA 718142-207 (1G-M18 19); GATEWAY SPLASH Intel

So am not really any further forward.