PC Problem (Beeps on start up).

[goodison1234]

I recently gave my old PC (pentium3 500mhz) away, but is encountering a problem.  When it is first switched on instead of the normal one beep, it beeps four times and the monitor fails to load.  The monitor displays a message something like 'no signal' if a button is pressed, and then turns itself off.

This problem *might* be as a result of a thunderstorm (as the PC went off during the storm).   Any ideas as to what I can do?

I have ensured the grpahics card and monitor leads are all properly connected.

Any help appreciated.  Alex.

[stevie21]

Have you tried a different monitor or different graphics card? Does that monitor work OK when in another PC?

I don't have any great expertise here but you can reduce the amount of things that might be wonky by trial and error.
If it's the monitor itself then it could be cheaper to replace it rather than repair it, especially when people throw monitors out every day of the week.

[BillyNoMates]

This is the BIOS telling you something hardware related is 'wrong' .

Is it 4 beeps of the same length or 1 long beep and a 3 short ones ?

Do you know what the make/type of Motherboard is ? 

[j2buttonsw]

The monitor works as it displays the "no signal" message. The beepiing is indeed the mainboard telling you something is wrong. If I were a betting man I would say the graphics card is faulty. Take the system apart and ensure the graphics card is seated properly or see if you can borrow one to test.

[goodison1234]

BillyNoMates (lol@ name) - it is 4 quick beeps in succession - its an old intel motheboard.

I tried re-inserting the graphics card a couple of times with no luck.  I can't even enter the setup when I first turn on the PC because of the monitor situation. 

This bloody PC is a fifteen min drive away too! Then again, better than a twenty min one.

I will go again now and detach everything and stick it all back in. 

Thanks for help.

[BillyNoMates]

Thanks for the extra info goodison.

Hasn't allowed me to come to a conclusion though !

I tend to go along with j2button wrt video card, but worth checking that everything - especially RAM - is seated correctly, along with cables etc. Does the motherboard have built-in video ? If so, remove the video card and connect the screen to that.

Other than that sounds like it could be terminal.

Good luck.

[mattie]

Sounds like faulty graphics card to me too.

[Tim Baxter]

Sounds like a faulty graphics card/connexion, simply plug another monitor into it.  Then try different card and same monitor.  Even if the software driver is incorrect you should be able to get a VGA display.

Good luck