PC won't start, recites beep code

Tom Redstern · #1 06-03-2006, 10:24 AM

Hi,

My problem is that my PC won’t start up. First, the monitor sets on (green light) but then immediately switches into power saving mode (no view at all), and meanwhile the PC boots up, runs for about 10 seconds, and then the internal speaker recites a beep code (once only). I’ve recorded it, so it can be heard at http://media.putfile.com/BIOS-Beep-code, I can’t really describe the beep as I can’t make out if there are pauses in it or not. The PC won’t show any image on the monitor when starting up, not at any point, the monitor just goes straight to power saving mode. My motherboard is Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe, BIOS rev. 1016.

I have checked the monitor plugs, started the PC with only the power plug and monitor plug on, checked the RAM seats, checked the AGP graphics card seating, and all the other wiring, started the PC over and over again, I’ve booted it only with the essential parts plugged in… and nothing. Only once I have got the image in the monitor (When I plugged the CPU fan off and booted, and when I put it back in, it was back to no image, and this trick won’t work again, tried it), it showed the BIOS screen (Motherboard picture and BIOS version, not set-up BIOS), then it went through the normal checking the memory etc. and then got to the raid sata screen, showing some raid sata BIOS version 5.1.39 and got stuck there. I’ve got only one HD, Seagate Barracuda 160Gigs.

The PC was working well yesterday, and it wasn’t until today that it wouldn’t start up. I had experienced this issue before, but it was resolved by re-starting the power, and I thought it was only a problem with some of the fans not powering up.

Any ideas?

Thanks for any help,

Tom

Oh, and here are my full pc specs:

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3500+ 2,2GHz / 640KB Socket 939 (Box), 2200Mhz, Winchester Core
Case: Antec Sonata Piano Black Quiet 380 W
Monitor: LG Flattron L1715S, 17" Silver/Black
Mobo: Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe, nVIDIA nForce4, AMD Hammer, BIOS Rev. 1016
GPU: MSI NVIDIA GeForce NX6800GT 256MB
RAM: 3072MB Kingston PC-3200 400Mhz DDR-RAM DIMM
Hard Drive: 160 Gt Seagate Barracuda 7 (7200 Rpm, DMA100, 8 Mt)
Drive: LG DVD-ReWritable LightScribe GSA-4166B (CD-R, CD+R, CD-RW, CD+RW, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM, DVD+RAM, DVD-DL, DVD+DL)
Sound Card: Creative SB Audigy 2 Audio [9000]
GPU Cooling: Arctic Cooling NV Silencer 5 rev.3
Case Cooling: Two 120x120mm fans, three 80x80mm fans and a Titan TTC-003 outblowing PCI-slot fan 147x125x20mm, 2800rpm
Speakers: Creative Inspire P5800 5.1 Speaker System
Mouse: M$ USB Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer
Keyboard: USB/PS2 Delta TB-95 Multimedia Keyboard
OS: M$ Windows XP Pro, SP2

All the fans work when the PC power is turned on.

Tom Redstern · #2 06-03-2006, 10:36 AM

Anyone? Also, I have added no new devices since yesterday.

Tom Redstern · #3 06-03-2006, 11:05 AM

Anyone? Sorry for the rush, but I need this solved as quickly as possible because I need to access the work that's on the HD.

Tom Redstern · #4 06-03-2006, 01:01 PM

Anyone at all?

bookworm · #5 06-03-2006, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Redstern

Anyone at all?

Checked the ASUS Forum, seems it may be the battery,it has a short life, go here to join http://support.asus.com/download/dow...Language=en-us

click Member Tab / join and when you Log In / go to Motherboard latest model post / on Motherboard Forum choose Motherboard / input your model/ and look at post A8N-SLI Delux lock up problem posted 5/27/2006, this describes your problem with a possible solution.

Hope this helps

Tom Redstern · #6 06-03-2006, 03:48 PM

Thanks a bunch, I'll go ahead and try there.

Tom

ANZAC_ELITE · #7 06-04-2006, 04:20 PM

Your bios is Award bios, the beep code is one long three short

1 long, 3 short ........ No video card or bad video RAM Reseat or replace the video card. Award bios beep codes

Check your video card is seated correctly and and has its own dedicated power supply line (i.e. it is the only device on that lead) Have you been overclocking your gpu?

SKULLZ1987 · #8 06-05-2006, 07:29 AM

Try Using another CPU Fan the CPU might be overheating, when working with no CPU Fan the CPU can overheat and stop working. If that doesn't work try another CPU.

Tom Redstern · #9 06-05-2006, 01:04 PM

Well, I never OC any of my GPUs, so that isn't the problem. And how could the power line be the problem since I hadn't changed anything inside the PC when it stopped working? Even if the power line was complicated, how did the PC work with it before then?

The CPU fan is working, so I doubt it's related to it. It could be the CPU since I've already rules out the RAM...

ANZAC_ELITE · #10 06-05-2006, 03:47 PM

Hi Tom,
Your video card may have failed. Is there any possible way you can test your pc with another card? Hardware does fail. Did you try reseating the video card? The beep code is related to the video card so the best bet would be to swap it out and try another one to see if it is truely the problem or try your video card in another pc would be another way to check if it is working or not.

Tom Redstern · #11 06-06-2006, 09:55 AM

Yeah, I've tried re-seating it and checked the power cords, and that the power led on the card is on.

I agree that it might very well be the card since the monitor immediately switches to power-saving mode on bootup. I'll have to check if I have an old card lying around somewhere to test it. Hmm... I sense that this is going to get expensive anyway. Darn!

ANZAC_ELITE · #12 06-06-2006, 05:16 PM

What driver are you running on the GT at the moment?? Can you boot to safe mode?? Being an Antec case I would doubt it is the power supply but that may also be worth checking (amps on the 12v rail) because you stated "Only once I have got the image in the monitor (When I plugged the CPU fan off and booted ...)" & "I had experienced this issue before, but it was resolved by re-starting the power, and I thought it was only a problem with some of the fans not powering up."

dsl2007 · #13 06-07-2006, 12:28 AM

Change your CMOS Battery.

ANZAC_ELITE · #14 06-08-2006, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsl2007

Change your CMOS Battery.

I was working on the presumption this had been done as per bookworms first reply

Tom Redstern · #15 06-08-2006, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ANZAC_ELITE

What driver are you running on the GT at the moment?? Can you boot to safe mode?? Being an Antec case I would doubt it is the power supply but that may also be worth checking (amps on the 12v rail) because you stated "Only once I have got the image in the monitor (When I plugged the CPU fan off and booted ...)" & "I had experienced this issue before, but it was resolved by re-starting the power, and I thought it was only a problem with some of the fans not powering up."

Yep, I've switched the CMOS battery, no effect. I'm running the latest ForceWare, and I really don't see how it possibly could affect anything, since the GPU was working before and probably wouldn't just quit working suddenly because of the drivers.

Edit: As I said, the PC won't boot at all, it won't even go on. It rolls nicely for 10 seconds (without any image mind you) and then recites the beep code.