# Computer problem (Beeeeeeeep beep beep) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 16, 2003, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-beeeeeeeep-beep-beep/195663 "2003-08-16T23:15:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-beeeeeeeep-beep-beep/195663/1 "2003-08-16T23:15:43Z")
I was typing a URL into my browser when_CLUNK_ 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? ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-beeeeeeeep-beep-beep/195663/2 "2003-08-16T23:18:47Z")
If you know who manufactured your motherboard you can possibly find their beep codes on their website. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-beeeeeeeep-beep-beep/195663/3 "2003-08-16T23:20:41Z")
I thought the beep ‘language’ was standard. Oh well, good idea I’ll go and search. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-beeeeeeeep-beep-beep/195663/4 "2003-08-16T23:21:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lobsang \* > \*\*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. \*\* 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. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-beeeeeeeep-beep-beep/195663/5 "2003-08-16T23:28:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joe Random \* > \*\*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. \*\* NOOOOoo. I may be [dumb](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=204779) 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. ---
**Author:** ![Hauky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/0ea827/32.png) [@Hauky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hauky)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-beeeeeeeep-beep-beep/195663/6 "2003-08-16T23:33:11Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-beeeeeeeep-beep-beep/195663/7 "2003-08-17T16:39:38Z")
It sounds like: A: Your PC has an Award BIOS, and B: Your video card’s shot Beep codes are translated [here.](http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm#04) ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-beeeeeeeep-beep-beep/195663/8 "2003-08-17T22:18:06Z")
ah, if only I knew what kind of computer it was exactly… ---
**Author:** ![transitionality](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@transitionality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/transitionality)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-beeeeeeeep-beep-beep/195663/9 "2003-08-17T22:43:44Z")
Beep codes are dependent on BIOS make and revision. Nothing else about your computer matters. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-beeeeeeeep-beep-beep/195663/10 "2003-08-17T22:48:47Z")
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. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-beeeeeeeep-beep-beep/195663/11 "2003-08-17T23:27:06Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2003, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-beeeeeeeep-beep-beep/195663/12 "2003-08-17T23:30:01Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-problem-beeeeeeeep-beep-beep/195663/13 "2003-08-18T03:18:13Z")
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.