Three beeps, no image on screen on startup

before doing step two put the memory back in LOL :0)

PL

If youve got a working machine (well you are posting :0)

go to the motherboard manifacturers website and do a search on

POST codes
POST beeps
and
BIOS error codes

It will point you in the right direction

PL

My PC wont boot and its beeping??



From http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm

 The computer POST (Power On Self Test) which tests the computer insuring that it meets the necessary system requirements before booting up. If the computer fails the POST the computer then returns a beep code indicating what is causing the computer not to post the POST. Generally if the computer POSTs properly you will receive a single beep (with some computer BIOS manufacturers it may beep twice).


THE POST TEST

     Each time the computer boots up the computer must past the POST. The following is the procedure of the POST:

1.  The first step of POST is the testing of the Power Supply to ensure that it is turned on and that it releases its reset signal.
2. CPU must exit the reset status mode and thereafter be able to execute instructions.
3. BIOS must be have readable.
4. BIOS checksum must be valid, meaning that it must be readable.
5. CMOS be accessible for reading.
6. CMOS checksum must be valid, meaning that it must be readable.
7. CPU must be able to read all forms of memory such as the memory controller, memory bus, and memory module.
8. The first 64KB of memory must be operational and have the capability to be read and written to and from, and capable of containing the POST code.
9. I/O bus / controller must be accessible.
10.  I/O bus must be able to write / read from the video subsystem and be able to read all video RAM..  

If the computer does not pass any of the above tests your computer will receive an irregular POST. An irregular POST is a beep code which is different from the standard which can be either no beeps at all or a combination of different beeps indicating what is causing the computer not to past the POST.


YOU NEED TO KNOW THE MAKE OF YOUR BIOS, SEE YOUR MOTHERBOARD HANDBOOK OR LOOK ON THE CHIP

AMI http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm#3 OR http://www.computercraft.com/docs/beeps.shtml

AWARD http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm#4 OR http://bioscentral.com/beepcodes/awardbeep.htm

IBM http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm#5 OR http://bioscentral.com/beepcodes/ibmbeep.htm

Macintosh http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm#6

Pheonix http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm#7 OR http://bioscentral.com/beepcodes/phoenixbeep.htm


POST TROUBLE SHOOTING

During the computers boot process the computer performs a POST which is a test that is performed each time a PC computer is boot up. If the computer passes you will receive a normal post which in most cases is the computer beeping one or two times. However in some cases you may receive a no POST or an irregular post indicating something is causing the computer not to pass the test. Below is a listing of some of the general steps that can be performed in helping the computer pass the POST sequence.

Precaution: Some of the following steps recommend removing physical parts within the computer. While within the computer it is highly recommend that you be aware of ESD and it's potential hazards.

First if any added hardware has been added to the computer before the irregular POST we would recommend it be removed to see if it is causing this issue.
Remove everything from the back of the computer except the power cable.
If you are receiving a sequence of beeps see if those sequence of beeps are listed within this page and follow the recommended steps for that beep code. If however your computers BIOS is not listed on this page or you are not sure which BIOS you have within your computer continue with the below steps.
Disconnect the IDE cables from the CD-ROM, Hard Drive, and Floppy drive from the Motherboard. If this resolves your irregular post attempt to connect each device one at a time to determine which device and or cable is causing the issue.
If the above still has not resolved the irregular post attempt to disconnect the Riser board (if possible) with all devices attached to it. If your computer does not include a riser board (ATX Motherboard) disconnect all the cards within the computer. If this resolves the issue or allows the computer to post connect one card at a time until you determine which card is causing the issue.
If you continue to to receive the same problem with all the above hardware still removed attempt to disconnect the CPU and RAM from the Motherboard. If this fixes the issue connect the RAM if the computer still continues to work connect the CPU. Extra Note: If your computer has a Pentium II or Pentium III socket, once the CPU is remove you may receive a NO POST (No beeps). However it is a good recommendation to at least reseat the CPU.
If the issue persists its a good possibility that the motherboard is bad.
Note: Cache is normally not a consideration considering that the Cache controller is usually enabled after the POST, however this can differ.


*****LINKS*****

http://bioscentral.com/
From http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm


PeteL

I believe that mobo has Award bios:
AWARD BIOS BEEP CODES

The following are Award BIOS Beep Codes that can occur. However because of the wide variety of different computer manufacturers with this BIOS the beep codes may vary.

Beep Code Description
1 long, 2 short Indicates a video error has occurred and the BIOS cannot initialize the video screen to display any additional information
Any other beep(s) RAM problem.

In short a RAM problem.

Error Beep Codes

 http://www.hi-tech.net/zones/help-beep.html


http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/sys/beep/

Hi There,
sounds like u're video card isn't seated properly. Remove the video card then replace it, pressing down hard to ensure that it's in the slot properly.

Michael

Yes 3 beeps is a badly seated or defective video card, do you have a known spare working one to try, if so try it. Also it mite be worth giving your APG slot a good blow-out.

Best of luck

Dave

hi
ok.go thorough these steps,and your problem would ( hopefully) be solved:

1.remove your memory.
if you have more than one memory card,insert one of the memory cards and start he computer.
  a.if the computer works,try inserting the other card.if now it wont boot up,the second card is defected.
  b.if the computer wont boot,replace the card with the second one and try again.return to a.
  c.if still doesnt help:take a memory card from a computer that works and try to boot.if works-check your memory on the working pc and check if it isnt defected.if still ot working - replace mobo.

2.if you checked the memories on another pc and they r fine,remove your video acc. and check again.

3. open the case and see if all the electricity is connected to its place.

4. check if the cpu's fan is working.

5. check if your k.b. is connected...

if still not working,check out the sites PeteLong suggested.they are very helpfull...

Thank you very much indeed. It was the memory that was the problem. I'm sorry it took so long for me to get back to you, but I was out of town for a while where I had no Internet connection!

Thank you all

Leif

ThanQ