Question

Long, continuous beep ACER ASPIRE PC

Asked by: isitcomputers

I have a computer in my care that I need fixed asap.  It powers on and after about 5 seconds a continuous beep occurs.
I thought RAM may be the problem.  There were 2 X 512MB of DDR2.  I removed one and the beeping stopped but the computer didn't boot up, not even to the cmos.  I tried the other stick...same thing.  Just to be sure, I replaced the RAM with 2X 1GB of DDR2.  It powers up then 5 seconds later a continuous beep.  Removed the only PCI card...still beeps.
What should I look at next?

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Asked On
2009-08-18 at 11:15:35ID24662370
Topic

Computer Motherboards

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
5

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Answers

 

by: SysExpertPosted on 2009-08-18 at 13:07:02ID: 25127070

1) reset the CMOS NVRAM ,  check the manual.

2) Could be a power supply issue or CPU overheating

3) Load BIOS defaults if possible.

4) Bad hardware ( motherboard dying ) could also do this.

I hope this helps !

 

by: nobusPosted on 2009-08-18 at 23:35:09ID: 25130054

Here my troubleshooting procedure :
with a new motherboard : verify if all mounting standoffs correspond with the holes in the mobo !!
Or test the mobo ouside the case, on a wooden  (non conductive) surface
clean the system from dust, then  test with the minimum setup - disconnect also all peripherals and network cables :
connect only  motherboard + cpu + 1 ram stick, video card, power supply
verify that the 4-pin or 8-pin CPU Aux power plug is connected
on boot, do you have a display?
if NO it is one of the connected, swap ram, Power supply, video card or monitor - leaving only motherboard and cpu
if Yes, add devices till the problem shows

you can also check the motherboard for bad capacitors as shown here :   www.badcaps.net

additional tests and things to try :
boot without ram, it should beep; (also, without video card)
try bios default settings,(if possible) or clear the bios by removing AC and bios battery

 

by: isitcomputersPosted on 2009-08-19 at 09:43:11ID: 31617229

Thanks!  90% sure it was the moboard.  Client just going to buy new PC so I will never truly know!
Cheers!

 

by: nobusPosted on 2009-08-19 at 09:50:31ID: 25134767

and what was the problem or solution ?

 

by: isitcomputersPosted on 2009-08-19 at 12:18:15ID: 25136234

After ruling out all other avenues, the motherboard was the remaining element in the problem.  The client did not want to replace the board (and I didn't want to buy one to test with!) so there is no way of knowing 100% it was the board.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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