Computer beeps when switched on

[bdux]

I have a computer that makes a long beep sound when switched on and doesn't stop the beep noise until the reset button is pushed. after the reset button is pushed the computer boots up properly . the computer is an iwill bd100-31310a bios celeron 333 . Can anyone come up with a reason for this strange behavior it would be greatly appreciated  .

 

[carty]

I'd reseat the memory to be sure it's connected properly.&nbsp;&nbsp;Don't know otherwise.<br><br>Carty

 

[pmkincaid]

I would go ahead and remove and reseat all your memory and ISA/PCI cards.&nbsp;&nbsp;Most of the time it is memory, but I have seen a video cards do this find of thing and also a barely seated/easily unseated card.<br><br>Hope this helps,<br>Paul Kincaid<br>

 

[Karl Blessing]

I've only heard beeps out of mine, if the Rams are bad, or not put in correctly. <p>Karl<br><a href=mailto:kb244@kb244.8m.com>kb244@kb244.8m.com</a><br><a href=

http://kb244.8m.com>

</a><br>Experienced in , or have messed with : VC++, Borland C++ Builder, VJ++6(starting),VB-Dos, VB1 thru VB6, Delphi 3 pro, Borland C++ 3(DOS), Borland C++ 4.5, HTML, ASP(somewhat), QBasic(least i didnt start with COBOL)

 

[pmkincaid]

Video being not present or bad also gives POST error beep codes on system power on and POST test.&nbsp;&nbsp;I have also seen a half seated NIC cause the system to error out on POST test.&nbsp;&nbsp;I don't know the exact beep codes, whenever I heard one long and a series of short beeps, or one long, continuous, it usually points to something, anything not seated properly or bad - most likely with the case designs now-a-days its just that some ISA/PCI card came unseated.&nbsp;&nbsp;Try yanking the video card out of a known working PC and booting that.<br><br>Paul

 

[voland]

Continuous beeps on POST are generally bad power supply. Memory - 3 short beeps; Video card - 1 long, 2 short. I do mean GENERALLY - it depends on BIOS mfg. On AWARDs, e.g. anything other than 1S 2L usually indicates RAM failures/contact - correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Tokelat]

Maybe this will help.

Audible beep error indicators


IBM BIOS
Indicator Message
One Short Beep Normal POST system OK
Two Short Beeps POST error, see screen for error code
No Beeps Power, Power Supply Loose Card or Short
Continuous Beep Power, Power Supply Loose Card or Short
Repeating Short Beep Power, Power Supply Loose Card or Short
One Long and One Short Beep System Board
One Long and Two Short Beeps Video (Mono/CGA Display Circuitry)
One Long and Three Short Beeps Video (EGA) Display Circuitry
Three Long Beeps Keyboard Card Error
One Beep, Blank or Incorrect Display / Video Display Circuitry


AMI BIOS
Indicator Message
One Short Beep DRAM Refresh Failure
Two Short Beeps Parity Circuit Failure
Three Short Beeps Base 64k RAM Failure
Four Short Beeps System Timer Failure
Five Short Beeps Processor Failure
Six Short Beeps Keyboard Controller Error
Seven Short Beeps Virtual Mode Exception Error
Eight Short Beeps Display Memory Failure
Nine Short Beeps ROM BIOS Checksum Failure
One Long and Three Short Beeps Base/Extended Memory Failure
One Long and Eight Short Beeps Display/Retrace Test Failure


Award BIOS
Indicator Message
One Long and Two Short Beeps Video Error
Two Short Beeps Any Non-Fatal Error
One Short Beep No Error During POST


Phoenix BIOS
Indicator Message
One, One & Three Beeps Failure CMOS Read/Write
One, One & Four Beeps ROM BIOS Checksum Failure
One, Two & One Beep Programmable Interval Timer Failure
One, Two & Two Beeps DMA Initialization Failure
One, Two & Three Beeps DMA Page Register Read/Write Failure
One, Three & One Beep RAM Refresh Verification Error
One, Three & Three Beeps First 64K RAM Chip/Data Line Failure
One, Four & Two Beeps Parity Failure First 64K RAM
One, Four & Three Beeps Fail-Safe Timer Feature (EISA Only)
One, Four & Four Beeps Software NMI Port Failure (EISA Only)
Two, One & One through Two, One & Four |
Two, Two & One through Two, Two & Four |First 64K RAM Chip/Data Line Failure
Two, Three & One through Two, Three & Four |
Two, Four & One through Two, Four & Four |
Three, One & One Beep Slave DMA Register Test Failure
Three, One & Two Beeps Master DMA Register Test Failure
Three, One & Three Beeps Master Interrupt Mask Register Failure
Three, One & Four Beeps Slave Interrupt Mask Register Failure
Three, Two & Four Beeps Keyboard Controller Failure
Three, Three & Four Beeps Screen Memory Failure
Three, Four & Two Beeps Screen Retrace Failure
Four, Two & One Beep Timer Tick Failure
Four, Two & Two Beeps Shutdown Failure
Four, Two & Three Beeps Gate A20 Failure
Four, Two & Four Beeps Unexpected Interrupt in Protected Mode
Four, Three & One Beep RAM Test of Memory Above 64 Failed
Four, Three & Two Beeps Programmable Interval Timer, Channel 2 Test Failure
Four, Three & Four Beeps Realtime Clock Test Failure
Four, Four & One Beep Serial Port Test Failure
Four, Four & Two Beeps Parallel Port Test Failure
Four, Four & Three Beeps Math Co-processor Test Failure
And now back to The Lord of the Rings

 

[bdux]

Thanks to all who replied ,
I discovered one of the computers that has been doing this behaviour had a video card that was faulty. The video card finally gave up and would not display anything on the monitor . At first it looked like a dead monitor but when I tried the monitor on another P.C it was ok. Once I replaced the video card the computer has stopped doing the beep noise . I suspect that I have a batch of faulty video cards waiting to give up the ghost in the P.C's .