Computer won't POST, one long beep

Tek7

Tek7

CGA President, Tribe of Judah Founder & President
Staff member
While I'm getting ready to install several new computer parts I received as gifts, I'm trying to figure out why my desktop computer won't post.

My machine started emitting a cycle of single long high-pitched beeps this morning. I swapped the RAM and video card, still no go. I pulled the PCI cards. Nope. I disconnected the floppy (yes, 3.5" floppy) and secondary IDE drives (a CD-R/W and DVD-R/W). Nada.

I'll continue the troubleshooting when my daughter takes her first nap of the day, but if any of you want to suggest any possible fixes, I'm all ears.

Oh, and I did already search for beep error codes and I've found conflicting results. So that wasn't terribly helpful.

EDIT: It's my desktop (that I use as a media center PC) that won't post. My laptop (that I use for gaming and everything else) is fine.
 
ewoksrule said:
By swapped ram, do you mean with different ram?
Click to expand...
Yep. Had two spare sticks of DDR1 RAM.

So I figured out what the problem is: One of the chipset heatsink clip anchors broke off.

Here's a picture of the heatsink; look at the upper right of the photo to see the clip hanging free.

Here's a close-up of the remaining anchor.

So I'm thinking if I can find a way to complete the circuit, I can at least test my theory.

Time to put on my MacGyver hat!
 
Tek7 said:
So I figured out what the problem is: One of the chipset heatsink clip anchors broke off.

Here's a picture of the heatsink; look at the upper right of the photo to see the clip hanging free.

Here's a close-up of the remaining anchor.

So I'm thinking if I can find a way to complete the circuit, I can at least test my theory.

Time to put on my MacGyver hat!
Click to expand...
Nope. Nevermind. I cut off a section of a paper clip using a wire clipper, stripped off bits of plastic at each end with a wire stripper, inserted the makeshift widget where the heatsink clip anchor used to be, reconnected the power, turned the PC on, and...still one long beep.

:(

My daughter's probably going to wake up from her nap any minute, but I'll continue researching and testing later today.

EDIT: It doesn't help that I can't find the manual for my mainboard (EPoX 8KRAIPRO) anywhere online and I have no idea where my physical copy is, if I even still have it.
 
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Resetting the BIOS didn't do any good either. The machine still turns on--hard drives, processor fan, PSU fan, all of it--but it won't get past POST.

I'm running out of ideas. I may have to concede that the motherboard or processor is broken. I just wish I could find a manual for my mainboard. Guess I'll try again tonight.
 
Boot with the bare minimum. No drives, no peripherals (except keyboard), no cd/dvd readers, bare minimum sticks of ram necessary.

Ensure your wires are connected properly for the case/fans. I would find the manual for the motherboard as that usually has the beep codes. Make sure the ram is loaded in the proper slot.

Also ensure that your power supply is sufficient for the motherboard/processor combo.

It's been a long time since I have dealt with hardware issues involving beeps codes. It was definitely the RAM (for my issue) and I believe I had the RAM in the wrong slots (2 sticks, 3 slots).
 
Ok, after doing a search (including the internet archive) I doubt you will be able to find the manual. However, if the system posts long enough for you to find the BIOS version (unless Epox wrote their own) you can use the following:

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

Which based on the codes it appears that it would be an IBM:

Continuous beep: Power supply, system board, or keyboard problem

Edit: I would try a non-usb keyboard if you are trying to boot with a usb one. Often times they won't recognize it until later.
 
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Corpfox said:
Connected the case wires to ur motherboard correctly?
Click to expand...
Yep.

What's odd is that the computer was working without issue until around 8 a.m. this morning, then it started beeping. It wasn't like it was turned off then beeped when I turned it back on. It was powered on when I went to bed last night and start beeping shortly after I got up. The last hardware change I made was installing 2 new sticks of RAM about a week ago--and the RAM worked just fine for the last week. Installing the old RAM didn't resolve the issue, either.

Patriot said:
Ok, after doing a search (including the internet archive) I doubt you will be able to find the manual. However, if the system posts long enough for you to find the BIOS version (unless Epox wrote their own) you can use the following:

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

Which based on the codes it appears that it would be an IBM:

Continuous beep: Power supply, system board, or keyboard problem
Click to expand...
Which leads me to believe it's the mainboard since both fans in the PSU turn on and spin just fine.

Patriot said:
Edit: I would try a non-usb keyboard if you are trying to boot with a usb one. Often times they won't recognize it until later.
Click to expand...
I hadn't thought of that. I previously used a PS/2 keyboard and now use a wireless USB keyboard/mouse combo. I still have the PS/2 keyboard so I'll give it a shot.

Patriot said:
Boot with the bare minimum. No drives, no peripherals (except keyboard), no cd/dvd readers, bare minimum sticks of ram necessary.
Click to expand...
Tried that earlier. No go. Then again, I didn't have a keyboard plugged in, but I thought I'd at least clear POST without a keyboard.

Patriot said:
Ensure your wires are connected properly for the case/fans. I would find the manual for the motherboard as that usually has the beep codes.
Click to expand...
I have no idea where the physical manual is and I'd probably have to tear through a few closets to even have a remote chance of finding.

At this point, I'm nearly resigned to backing up important files from my primary drive, waiting until the thermal grease and heatsink/fan I ordered for the processor and other parts I received as a gift arrive, and installing the new parts in my current case.

Patriot said:
Make sure the ram is loaded in the proper slot.
Click to expand...
There are only 2 slots and both of them have RAM in them. I've tried only installing RAM in the first slot as well as tried different sticks. Still no go.

Patriot said:
Also ensure that your power supply is sufficient for the motherboard/processor combo.
Click to expand...
Definitely adequate. The machine has worked for years, so I have no idea why it would quit working overnight.
 
ewoksrule said:
Yeah but even no keyboard would get you into post.

How did you reset the bios? with the cmos jumper reset?
Click to expand...
I tried that first then I removed the CMOS battery completely for 7 minutes then reinstalled it. Still no go.
 
Patriot said:
Power supply's sometimes go bad. Don't suppose you have a spare to try?
Click to expand...
I do, actually.

Even I thought I was a little crazy for saving an old PC with 1GHz process, a GeForce TI 200, a 20GB hard drive, and an ASUS A7M266 mainboard.

Okay, so maybe I'm still crazy, but it turns out that PC finally came in handy again. (It was my wife's computer years ago before we got her a laptop. I formatted the drive and installed a fresh copy of Windows XP with all then-current updates before shelving it.)

I plugged the Radeon 9600 and a 512MB DDR1 RAM stick in the old PC and hooked it up to the TV. I'm getting ready to install MediaPortal on it now (though I have a sneaking suspicion it won't even play 480p video without lagging).

Back on topic: I plugged the 400W power supply into the mainboard on the even older PC and it booted just fine. I plugged it back into the mainboard of the not-as-old PC and it wouldn't boot--the fans just spun up for a second then turned off. I could hear a very faint hissing sound after the fans turned off but before I flipped the power switch on the back.

When I plugged the 300W PSU in the even older PC into the not-as-old mainboard, the fans turned on and stayed on BUT the mainboard still returned the single long beep POST error code.

(How's that for confusing?)

So the evidence suggests that the power supply is still good, but I'm not entirely sure. I guess if it's bad, I'll buy an inexpensive new mid-tower case with a 400+W power supply built in.

We'll find out when my thermal grease and heatsink/fan come in this coming week!
 
ARG. The processor in my old-old computer is so, well, old that I can't even install DirectX, which means that I can't install MediaPortal, which means that I can't watch fansubbed anime on that PC. Sad stuff.
 
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