beep... beep... beep... beep... beep...

[plebeian]

Dead Duron? Dead mommyboard? Dead Power supply?

Inital configuration:

Duron 600@850
Asus A7V
Antec KS180 case + PP303X power supply (speaker on case dead)
Voodoo3 AGP

The scenario: The Duron was running a little hot so I got one of them Taisol HSFs. Took the old HSF off, new HSF goes on, restart: nothing. #$%@! While installing the Taisol, the screwdriver had slipped and I now notice some scratches on the traces (between the DIMMs and the CPU) where I can see metal. My first diagnosis: I horked the mommyboard.

So I order a EPOX EP-8KTA+. New mommy board arrives, remove everything from the ks180 and install the 8kta+, Duron600@600, RAM, voodoo3, then restart: nothing. #$%@! #$%@! My second diagnosis: I horked the the CPU when installing the HSF.

So I buy a new Duron 600. Old duron out, new duron in, then restart: nothing. #$%@! #$%@! #$%@!

Since I knew that the speaker on the Antec had never worked, I now hook up a speaker from an old AT case. Result: beep... beep... beep... sometimes. Sometimes nothing at all. (This depends upon which Duron: the original one always beeps, the new one generally results in silence but occasionally beeps.)

I now look to this esteemed message board for assistance:

Does this sound like two dead Durons?

Does this sound like two dead mommyboards?

Does this sound like one partially dead PS? (The LEDs do come on, but I haven't checked voltages with a DMM yet.) Are the Antec power supplies crap?

Or some thing else?

Thanks in advance.

 

[stockjock]

I mite be wrong...but I think 3 beeps is bad memory...like I said, I mite be wrong but I think I remember hearing the 3 beep thing and memory... and if I'm right, then you have 2 perfectly good Durons and motherboards...whatcha gonna do!!!

 

[lhampel]

yes, it's the three beeps of RAM. (Help, Help, Help)

What ya going to do with that A7V? LMK, I'm might try & fix it.

 

[plebeian]

Thanks, I'll have to give the memory a look-see. I'm using the Epox mommyboard, and that manual doesn't give the alarm codes. But the A7V (same Award BIOS) manual specifies the continuous beep as indicative of no DRAM (detected).

I guess it's off to the hot deals board to look for a new DIMM.

 

[Losty]

what are you going to do with the duron? i'll take it off your hands since you bought 2...

 

[Madmarc]

I had almost the same problem (beeps).
Try putting your memory in another slot.
This helped with me.
Good luck!

 

[Rockhammer]

I could be wrong, but believe that the steady slow beep is "CPU and Memory Subsystem". So it is possible that you busted the CPU. I hope it's the ram....

 

[lhampel]

I wouldn't worry about the CPU, one long BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
will let you know if the CPU is dead. (most of the time)

 

[lepper boy]

Well, I could be totally in left field.... but I'm pretty sure that 3 Beeps means your video card.. Pull it out. and re-seat it.. then try it again....

 

[Kelv]

Mate, what BIOS have u got?

Because different BIOS have different beep codes me thinks...

For Award BIOS a Long beep followed by 3 short beeps is video card problems...

So just check what BIOS you've got.

 

[plebeian]

Thanks for all the responses.

Update:

Well, I've ordered new RAM which should be here tomorrow. However, I tested the DIMM on another working K6-2 system and it appears fine, so I don't really think that the RAM is the problem. I've checked the voltages from the power supply and they're pretty close to spec. I've also verified that the monitor is fine and have tried two different video cards (1 AGP, 1 PCI) and the symptom remain the same:

"Long beeps in an endless loop" which for Award BIOS should be indicative of "No DRAM installed or detected".

So it still looks like it's either a pair of dead mommyboards, a pair of dead Durons, or possibly a bad power supply. I'll try the new DRAM when it comes, and I might try the combo of the old motherboard (a7v) with the new Duron. If nothing works, I guess its time to RMA the Duron and try another.

Any advice or comments would be appreciated.

 

[CompFreak]

From what i know, 3 Beeps mean there is no video card detected. Well thats what my mobo did when i took the vid card out of it and turned it on.

 

[plebeian]

Sorry for any confussion over the number of beeps due to the [now editied] title. There are not just three beeps, but instead are an endless cycle of beeps.

 

[Supradude]

somebody correct me if i'm wrong, i once heard a countinuous beeping, i believe it means CHIP IS TOO HOT!!!,... my cpu temps were like 119c when this happened, thank goodness the P!!! 450 i had at the time was able to withstand the heat, literally... check your HSF for contact...

 

[plebeian]

Overheating the CPU is a different warning for Award BIOS: "high frequency beeps when the system is working" means "CPU overheated, Systme running at a lower freq."

The error that I am am getting is the "long beeps in an endless loop".

How often are CPUs or motherboards DOA?

 

[Kenwood]

I feel your pain dude. I am rebuilding a system in which the ps overvolted and was pumping out at 17v on the 12v side. This is NFG. Fried. I replaced the ps,mb,proc,mem and video card(these were upgrades to an old AT box)It's a kids machine that was an AMD 5x86 P75 and will be a k6-2 450. Anyways, the DFI mobo with an Award just gives me beep after beep after beep and the monitor stays blank. I have tested everything else on another system so that leaves the new mobo as DOA.

 

[Peter]

With AMI-BIOS, short beeps in 1 second intervals, with the FDD spinning, indicates a damaged BIOS ROM. It sits there waiting for you to insert a floppy disk with a suitable BIOS image file on it (named AMIBOOT.ROM usually). Insert an empty disk, then it should switch to two-beep pattern indicating "disk inserted, file not found".

But failure in reading the BIOS ROM might also come from bad RAM or defective CPU - but most of the time, it's failed BIOS update flash attempts.

Regards, Peter

 

[Racer7201]

Probably not related, but I'll mention it. We just got new KDS monitors at work and if the system is running and you shut down the computer without turning off the monitor and turn the computer back on, it just keeps beeping and won't boot. Turn it off, turn off monitor, turn monitor on and computer on and it comes up ok. These monitors do this on 3 different systems in the shop. Strange.

 

[mleafs]

HI
I had the same problem.. endless loop of long beeps..
it was real pain.. running to the place I bought the MB then finding out that it wasn't MB.. wasn't memory either, it ended up being the CPU.. once I got new CPU everything was fine..

 

[Sporko]

Boy, this thread illustrates some real confusion about the meaning of these beep codes. Is there anywhere that lists these codes and their meanings?

 

[plebeian]

If anyone should happen to care, the issue has been resolved. I RMA'ed the mommyboard and received a new 8kta+. Now everything is wonderful.

Now we'll see if I can put my Taisol hs/f on without destroying the Epox.

Thanks for everyone's help.

 

[Regalk]

Sometimes beep codes are in the manual - now if only I could locate mine iits here somewhere will find it in a bit. But they generally relate to
Bad or absent memory
CPU unworkable or bad
Video card not inserted properly.
BTW the Taisol is a breeze to install (I installed and uninstalled mine fairly easily). Now the chrome ORB or better yet the FOP38 those are tough. But if done properly should pose no problems.

 

[MacrossPlus]

I believe continous beeps means:

1) your car is stalled on the 10 freeway

2) your house is on fire

3) a big semi is about to back up and run you over