Computer problem (Beeeeeeeep beep beep)

Factual Questions
1

I was typing a URL into my browser whenCLUNK The picture went and some sounds from the box suggested it had just recet.
I INSTANTLY thought MS-Blast. But I had downloaded and installed the fix for that a while ago.

So I switch off and back on…

BEEEEEEP Beep beep (one long two very short beeps)

I looked at the fan on my graphics card after turning on a second time, it was not moving (shit, the graphics card has died)

I pulled out (I am rushing here in case it ‘dies’ again) the card, put it back in, this time the fan worked, but still the beeps.
Then I pulled all the cards out, and put back in. switch on, problem solved.

So one of the cards must have been out. Is that what Beeeeep beep beep means? or is it a sign of something worse?

2

If you know who manufactured your motherboard you can possibly find their beep codes on their website.

3

I thought the beep ‘language’ was standard. Oh well, good idea I’ll go and search.

4

Do you mean you reseated your video card while the computer was running? If so, that is a Bad Thing[sup]TM[/sup], as it can easilly damage things.

5

NOOOOoo. I may be dumb but I am not that dumb.
As I was in a rush to type I probably ommited a few obvious steps (like turning off before I stick my hand in and pull things out) I knew of the beeps after re-seating the card because I had switched off. the beeps are part of the boot up process I’d imagine.

6

Yes, the beeps are part of the boot-up process, and no, they aren’t standard. It’s called a POST–Power On Self Test. If you can’t find the codes, you could just plug in cards one at a time until it starts beeping again, and the last card you plug in will be your culprit.

7

It sounds like:

A: Your PC has an Award BIOS, and
B: Your video card’s shot

Beep codes are translated here.

8

ah, if only I knew what kind of computer it was exactly…

9

Beep codes are dependent on BIOS make and revision. Nothing else about your computer matters.

10

The POST code is only standard to the BIOS manufacturer, unfortunately. I agree with gotpasswords that it sounds like your video card is having problems, but you wanna know why.

Two WAGs:
Your power supply had some surge that temporarily frotzed your card.
Your video card fan stopped running the first time, and the GPU overheated and caused a reset. (Knowing your video card brand would help here. I’m assuming since it has a fan it is one that would generate a lot of heat). Then letting it cool down fixed the prob. 2D graphics don’t really stress video cards though.

Neither of these is a really testable theory though. I’ll just assume I’m right then. :smiley:

11

Well after I re-seated all the cards, I used the computer for many hours afterwards. Now it is CLUNK-day +1 and it’s still fine.

The video card is a not very old (a few months) Nvidia Geforce 4.

12

And since re-seating all the cards solved the problem I am guessing something was not fully ‘home’ and that the beep code is beep for ‘something is not fully seated’.

Thanks for the help guys.

Would I be right in wondering that the fan on the GPU might only run when the heat is high enough, as a feature?

13

My GeForce 4 fan runs all of the time. I have a PNY Verta 4400 card, so it may depend on manufacturer. Perhaps something, like an IDE or CD->Sound card cable got caught in it and jammed it. That once happened to my CPU fan.