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Question

ACER ASPIRE DESKTOP WILL NOT BOOT

Mar 4, 2014 7:05AM PST

Problem is with an Acer Aspire M3985. 3.1G Intel I5 with 10G memory. Windows 7.

The problem does not happen all of the time but maybe 80% of the time.

Pressing the power on. Power supply, fans, and HDD light come on. I get 3 short beeps 2 times before the HDD light goes off. At this point the only thing to do is to hold the power button in and turn system off. Doing this repeated times will eventually turn the system on. Goes through POST and boots to Windows 7. Once the system is on there is never a problem. If however it needs to restart it virtually never comes back on without repeated attempts.

What I have done.
1. Tried booting with minimum (keyboard and mouse) attached.
2. Tried a video card and bypassing the onboard video.
3. Replaced the power supply.
4. Removed and reseated all memory cards (3).
5. Tried with various combinations of memory cards.
6. Checked BIOS settings
7. Put the HD (SATA) on a different SATA port
8. Unplugged HD
9. Removed all USB devices
10. Tried booting to repair disk

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Have you researched the beep code?
Mar 4, 2014 7:15AM PST

Dafydd.

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Also...
Mar 4, 2014 7:22AM PST
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Beeps
Mar 4, 2014 7:41AM PST

Have not found anywhere the decode for 3x2 beeps. It is an Acer MB

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Can you describe the beeps more clearly
Mar 4, 2014 7:54AM PST
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Answer
It's not in any sevice manual.
Mar 4, 2014 7:57AM PST
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Answer
Fixed
Mar 5, 2014 8:40AM PST

Flashed the BIOS and that fixed it.