3 beeps when powering on... continuously

FatChance · 08-09-2003, 10:10 AM

Hello all. I found this forum when putting in a search on yahoo for a computer help site. I hope some of you may have ideas as to why my pc does not work. Looks like a pretty active community here.

Right now I power up the computer and I get 3 beeps followed by a brief 2 seconds of silence and then 3 beeps again. It does this over and over.
Nothing shows up on the monitor. I had thought that I could perhaps disconnect all clips and then reconnect. I don't want to touch anything before asking someone first. Thanks for any help you can give.

Goty · 08-09-2003, 11:12 AM

Look in the manual for the motherboard (if you have it. if not, get it off the maker's site) and look for error codes. It will tell you what the beeps mean. I could be anything from a damaged controller on the board to defective RAM.

Rbreb13 · 08-09-2003, 11:15 AM

Not enough information to help. Post your specs.

FatChance · 08-09-2003, 01:10 PM

Thanks for your quick replies guys. I have looked at my motherboard and it is was made by MSI I think. MS-6380E and K7T266 Pro 2-A.
I have gone through the MSI website and looked for some sort of manual but I click on manual and nothing I want comes up. I have also tried motherboards.org and after having downloaded the manual (at least I thought I did) it doesn't show up on this PC. I didn't build the computer that is not working and don't know a lot. My friend who built it is currently stationed in Korea so I have no way of contacting him for advice.

Rbreb13 · 08-09-2003, 01:25 PM

AMI BIOS BEEP CODES

The following are AMI 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 Descriptions
1 short DRAM refresh failure
2 short Parity circuit failure
3 short Base 64K RAM failure
4 short System timer failure
5 short Process failure
6 short Keyboard controller Gate A20 error
7 short Virtual mode exception error
8 short Display memory Read/Write test failure
9 short ROM BIOS checksum failure
10 short CMOS shutdown Read/Write error
11 short Cache Memory error
1 long, 3 short Conventional/Extended memory failure
1 long, 8 short Display/Retrace test failed

It appears to be a memory error. Try reseating the memory. Then do a Google for memtest86 and download it and test your memory.

FatChance · 08-09-2003, 02:42 PM

I'll try it. Thanks.

Davis · 08-09-2003, 02:48 PM

I dont know if this will apply to you but ive rand into several motherboards that would beeb, then beep twice before going into startup, and nothing would be wrong with them.

Some of the settings in the cmos would tell the motherboard to beep whenever it completed a post test or some other setting.

rstarr · 08-09-2003, 04:34 PM

One beep is normal, but 3 almost always means ram problems. Either not seated or going bad...

LagosAzul · 08-09-2003, 05:10 PM

3 beeps pause 3 beeps was an unseated memory module for me. No monitor no nothing. Check your CRIMM's if you got em.

FatChance · 08-10-2003, 11:13 AM

Thanks for your help guys. I just reseated a few things and it worked. I'm still not exactly sure what it was but it is fixed now.

08-09-2003, 10:10 AM	#1
FatChance softcore Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 4	3 beeps when powering on... continuously Hello all. I found this forum when putting in a search on yahoo for a computer help site. I hope some of you may have ideas as to why my pc does not work. Looks like a pretty active community here. Right now I power up the computer and I get 3 beeps followed by a brief 2 seconds of silence and then 3 beeps again. It does this over and over. Nothing shows up on the monitor. I had thought that I could perhaps disconnect all clips and then reconnect. I don't want to touch anything before asking someone first. Thanks for any help you can give.

08-09-2003, 11:12 AM	#2
Goty Tagger of the Realm Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Dacula, GA Posts: 3,488	Look in the manual for the motherboard (if you have it. if not, get it off the maker's site) and look for error codes. It will tell you what the beeps mean. I could be anything from a damaged controller on the board to defective RAM. __________________

08-09-2003, 11:15 AM	#3
Rbreb13 Over Hill, pickin up Speed Join Date: May 2002 Location: Carbondale, Colorado Posts: 10,107	Re: 3 beeps when powering on... continuously Not enough information to help. Post your specs. __________________ Some of my PC's

08-09-2003, 01:25 PM	#5
Rbreb13 Over Hill, pickin up Speed Join Date: May 2002 Location: Carbondale, Colorado Posts: 10,107	AMI BIOS BEEP CODES The following are AMI 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 Descriptions 1 short DRAM refresh failure 2 short Parity circuit failure 3 short Base 64K RAM failure 4 short System timer failure 5 short Process failure 6 short Keyboard controller Gate A20 error 7 short Virtual mode exception error 8 short Display memory Read/Write test failure 9 short ROM BIOS checksum failure 10 short CMOS shutdown Read/Write error 11 short Cache Memory error 1 long, 3 short Conventional/Extended memory failure 1 long, 8 short Display/Retrace test failed It appears to be a memory error. Try reseating the memory. Then do a Google for memtest86 and download it and test your memory. __________________ Some of my PC's

08-09-2003, 02:42 PM	#6
FatChance softcore Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 4	Re: 3 beeps when powering on... continuously I'll try it. Thanks.

08-09-2003, 01:10 PM	#4
FatChance softcore Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 4	Thanks for your quick replies guys. I have looked at my motherboard and it is was made by MSI I think. MS-6380E and K7T266 Pro 2-A. I have gone through the MSI website and looked for some sort of manual but I click on manual and nothing I want comes up. I have also tried motherboards.org and after having downloaded the manual (at least I thought I did) it doesn't show up on this PC. I didn't build the computer that is not working and don't know a lot. My friend who built it is currently stationed in Korea so I have no way of contacting him for advice.

08-09-2003, 02:48 PM	#7
Davis Possibly Guru? Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 3,889	I dont know if this will apply to you but ive rand into several motherboards that would beeb, then beep twice before going into startup, and nothing would be wrong with them. Some of the settings in the cmos would tell the motherboard to beep whenever it completed a post test or some other setting.

08-09-2003, 04:34 PM	#8
rstarr Still cruising Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Radcliff, KY Posts: 12,012	One beep is normal, but 3 almost always means ram problems. Either not seated or going bad... __________________ HCW F@H Member Stats • F@H Home • F@H FAQ• Stats site•

08-09-2003, 05:10 PM	#9
LagosAzul Hardcore Wannabe Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: The Devils Armpit: Las Vegas Posts: 233	3 beeps pause 3 beeps was an unseated memory module for me. No monitor no nothing. Check your CRIMM's if you got em.

08-10-2003, 11:13 AM	#10
FatChance softcore Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 4	Thanks for your help guys. I just reseated a few things and it worked. I'm still not exactly sure what it was but it is fixed now.

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