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Thread ID: 37786	2003-09-18 00:00:00	hardware conflict?	carl watson (2731)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
176089	2003-09-18 00:00:00	I have a problem with my computer, that has been on-going for months, and no-one seems to be able to track down the actual root problem. Can you bear with me, for a long explanation, and possibly hand it on to some-one who likes solving silly problems? I will have to be long winded, as I need to explain what my set-up is, in case it helps. I have a PC, pentium 3,797Mh, 768 Mb ram, XP pro, 2002, service pack 1. 60Gb HD, and a second 120Gb HD for images. DVD writer, and normal CD writer too,scanners, printer etc, on fire-wire, and USB2 cards. All were working OK up to a few months ago. (I have up to date Norton, Zone alarm, etc, and as far as I know, no virus or bug problems. This is, so I am told, a hardware conflict or problem somewhere.) The problem is that the computer won't "start-up". It makes a very informative noise, through its own internal speaker, <beep-bee,bee,bee,beep>, and won't start up, the monitor, if on, shows only a window saying <no connection to the computer>, (or words to that effect),and nothing works at all. It just doesn't "boot-up". The problems then, become a real silly puzzle. I tried all sorts of work-arounds, first, it would start if the monitor wasn't on, to start, then that didn't do the trick, (I have to switch everything off, and wait about half an hour, for all the internal "capacitance" effects, or whatever, to fade away, trying again straight away, doesn't work._) It was suggested that some hardware was faulty, and I took out the modem, (as I had been having odd problems with connections failing etc, so that was my first suspect). Bingo, everything was back to normal, fine for a week, while I had no modem at all, and a new modem worked fine, and a lot better connection speed, etc, and all seemed cured, for two weeks,! then back to <beep-bee,bee,bee,beep> again. Damn! I then took out the next card, the sound card, Bingo, everything worked fine again, but no sound.! When a new sound card was put in, the <beep,bee,bee,bee,beep> started at once, but when the old sound card software was cleared out, and the new one installed, all seemed OK again, for a few days, then back to the problems.There seems no rationality in the random way I can overcome the problem. Sometimes I have to make sure EVERYTHING is switched off, before I switch the PC on, other days it won't even start then, but WILL start if I switch on the speakers first,! I have to make sure the monitor isn't on, yet I had been told that normally, the monitor should be on, so the PC can"recognise"it when it starts up. It is all very confusing and doesn't seem at all logical to me. (Checking the device manager, etc for warning markers, etc, there are none, except that there are 2 "standard gaming ports" listed, one has a red cross on it, as it has been "disabled", why there are two, my PC expert can't explain, but says that if one is disabled, its OK anyway.) Fortunately, I am retired, my life doesn't depend on the stupid machine, but it is still a constant hassle, not knowing if it is going to start up, or not. (I also run a Mac, to which I can turn, thank God!) If anyone in you circle of experts, can decipher for me, the apparent signal it is telling me, with its distinctive beep signal, I would be most grateful. Sorry about the long winded letter!!! Carl Watson. Whakatane.	carl watson (2731)
176090	2003-09-18 00:41:00	The beeps are a specific BIOS code to tell you whats wrong. If you do a search on BIOS beep codes then look at the codes for your make of BIOS (usually Award or AMI nowadays but you can see what make of BIOS onscreen at boot yours is) it should give you some idea of what the fault is. What make and model is your PC or if you know, what make and model is the motherboard in the machine?	John Grieve (367)
176091	2003-09-18 01:46:00	which os? w98? it may also be the motherboard. since its an old P3, I wonder if it can handle the 120G hdd very well. have you ever updated bios? good luck	yang11 (170)
176092	2003-09-18 01:54:00	It could be any number ot things, dodgy BIOS or CMOS, PSU, ram, video, motherboard. Are there any error messages or just the POST beeps? Have a look at the following links: Boot Troubleshooting (www.pcguide.com) and POST Beep Codes (www.pcguide.com). HTH Murray P	Murray P (44)
176093	2003-09-21 04:37:00	Dear "Yang" As stated, the os is XP pro, I am getting my experienced daughter to check out the suggestions given, many thanks.	carl watson (2731)
176094	2003-09-21 04:38:00	Dear Murray,Many thanks, my daughter is helping me try and track down the "code" etc. Carl.	carl watson (2731)
176095	2003-09-21 04:44:00	Dear John, Thanks for your reply, my daughter is helping me try and track down the "code". the motherboard is a VIA apollo , GA-6VX7B-4X socket 370 processor, whatever all that means. One further "point"!! I run a mac G4 also, sharing the main 21" monitor, thru' a fancy switch gadget, (which has been like that for a long time, before this problem arose), but I now note, that if the mac is already on, the PC starts with no troubles at all, whether this is relevant I know not! however, it does give me a way round the problem. Carl.	carl watson (2731)
176096	2003-09-21 06:24:00	Dear John, Further reply, the bios is AMI, ambios V. 1.23, the "5 beep" code didn't lead us to any real conclusions. I still suspect that the connection with the mac has some bearing on it, but I don't see why it should do so!! Carl	carl watson (2731)
176097	2003-09-21 08:02:00	In your post you say it is a 5 beep code which according to the Post Beep code site means Processor failure so you should check the heatsink and fan on the CPU and even remove clean up and reinstall the heatsink/fan using some decent thermal paste for CPU heatsink mounting.	John Grieve (367)
176098	2003-09-21 08:39:00	It would pay to disconnect the Mac and the video switch and just see what happens with the PC and only the monitor connected to it.	Terry Porritt (14)
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