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General discussion

System cannot boot?

Jun 29, 2004 4:55PM PDT

I've a P4 2.66GHz cpu, 512MB DDR RAM, 64MB GeForce AGP graphic card, Build in sound, on-board 10/100 Lan, DVD + CD-RW Comb Drive, Floppy disk 6 in 1 card reader and 80Gb hard disk. OS Windows 98se

System hang while surf internet. Reboot system the screen is black with beep beep followed by 8 beep then A drive light flash a while followed with 2 beep and 1 beep.

Replace graphic card and harddisk no good!

Need help, any one?

Thanks

Discussion is locked

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Re: System cannot boot?
Jun 29, 2004 5:10PM PDT

The motherboard manual should specify what this particular combination of beeps means.

A new motherboard (or memory, or CPU) will surely help, but a tech might find some smaller or easier part to be replaced or fixed.

Kees

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Re: System cannot boot?
Jun 30, 2004 3:40PM PDT

Thanks for your replied. I don't have the motherboard manual, where can I get one?

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Motherboard manual.
Jun 30, 2004 8:05PM PDT

I do have a motherboard manual that came with the motherboard of my custom-built PC (forget about this if you have some brand computer, they won't tell you), but it doesn't have information on this aspect. It seems a tech's secret. It's like your TV and your car: you have a user manual, and the tech has a lot of tech manuals (or CD's) with the information he needs to do maintenance and repairs and to order spare parts.

Maybe, maybe, if you know your make and model, you can find it at the manufacturers site. But it's improbable you can repair it yourself, in my opinion.


Kees

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Re: System cannot boot?
Jun 30, 2004 12:49AM PDT

liangcng,

If you shut the computer down normally, and then, on a normal start up, do you have the same series of "beeps"? Or is it a standard single beep at start up?

Here are a few procedures I would start with...

Have you tried installing the most recent drivers for ALL your hardware including motherboard, audio, video, modems, etc.? If not, visit the manufacturer's site and see if new one's are available.

After you do that, then try the steps below to help shut down unnecessary start up programs which cause conflicts and freezes:

How To Shut Down Unnecessary Start Up Programs
http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-6121-0.html?forumID=45&threadID=22053&messageID=238474

After doing removing unnecessary start up programs, then clean out the Temporary Internet Files folder, delete all .tmp files and run Scandisk and Defrag to optimize the hard drive.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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Re: System cannot boot?
Jun 30, 2004 9:28AM PDT

Thanks for yours replied. It cannot boot at all, black screen when start up with all the beep???

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Re: System cannot boot?
Jun 30, 2004 3:44PM PDT

Before the problem happen, on a normal start up is a single beep. Thanks

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''Beeps''
Jun 30, 2004 10:03PM PDT

The BIOS performs a power-on self-test (POST) (a built-in diagnostic program that checks system hardware to ensure that everything is present and functioning properly, before the BIOS begins the actual boot), a test which is used to ensure a system is functioning properly. When a problem is identified, the BIOS will normally produce an error message. In some cases, since a problem may be detected so early that the BIOS cannot even access the video card to print the message, a series of beeping pattern will be produced on the speaker to tell a user what the problem is. The exact meaning of the beep codes depends on the type and version of BIOS. A site to check for BIOS Post Codes is "BIOS Central" -- please note the box upper right-hand side identifiying the system BIOS used on the system -- this you must know.

Note: A single beep during the boot process -- usually right before the BIOS startup screen is displayed, is normal and does not indicate a failure as long as the boot process continues.

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Re: System cannot boot?
Jul 4, 2004 3:12PM PDT

You dont say what motherboard you have, but as you are using a GeForce graphics card I wondered if you had a Mach 4 board, the beep sounds like it could be. If you have, you need to short jumper JP3 to safe mode settings which is pin 2 and pin 3. Pin 1 is at the bottom and the jumper is slightly to the left about half way up. The jumpers are numbered. You must also unplug the comp and short JP5 found next to the battery between pin 2 and pin 3 for 3 to 5 seconds then replace the cap between pins 1 and 2. This will clear the CMOS and allow you to check out your BIOS settings. Pin 1 is to the left. Once you have reset your BIOS and have the comp booted you can reset jumper JP 3 to user mode shorting pins 1 and 2 again.
This is good for boards, NF2S-ALH, NF2S-AED, NF24-ALH, NF24-ANH.

Good luck

Ken

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Re: System cannot boot?
Jul 4, 2004 9:08PM PDT

Thanks for all the replied, everythings back to normal when I start up my computer the next day.

Except, every time (the first time I click IE to surf internet (any web site), the system hang while surf internet for few minutes(it only happen every time I surf internet the first time I click at IE and surf for a while), after reboot and surf internet again is back to normal.

Do you know what wrong, please advise

I've a P4 2.66GHz cpu, pc-chips motherboard M925ALU V7.1, 512MB DDR RAM, 64MB GeForce AGP graphic card, Build in sound, on-board 10/100 Lan, DVD + CD-RW Comb Drive, Floppy disk 6 in 1 card reader and 80Gb hard disk. OS Windows 98se

Thanks in advance

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Topic?
Jul 4, 2004 10:21PM PDT

While it may have been a good idea to make a new thread, your Subject title should have changed to match your new direction.

Small world. I have some model of the m925 and it didn't stabilize until I fitted a new 450 Watt PSU, updated the BIOS and reset the BIOS defaults. But I only offer this as sharing what I did on the hardware front.

As to your comment about IE pausing, that's a common sign of PARASITES. Are you actively expelling the pests with Adaware, Spybot, Cwshredder and Housecall?

Can you use any other browser when you can?

Bob

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Re: Topic?
Jul 5, 2004 1:41PM PDT

Thanks Bob, I scan with Adaware and Housecall, delete 2 files each.

Thanks again