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Computer Problem

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Nov 10, 2004
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I have a computer problem at my dads workplace.
Sometimes the PC works fine, I then shut it off and the next day when I go into the office the PC wont start up and I hear 3 or 4 loud beeps coming from the tower. Then a day later its starts up again normally.
Does anyone know what can cause this????

I'm gonna call tech support but I thought I'd ask here first.
 

cancowboy2001

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Apr 8, 2004
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If you can figure out what BIOS it has and remember the beep pattern, this guide might help determine what is the problem: http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm

Intermittent problems are a bitch.
 

Esco!

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Nov 10, 2004
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samcan said:
Could either be bad ram (memory) or video card.
Are beeps long or short, what kind of computer?
They are about 3 or 4 short beeps as soon as I start up the PC.
Then it stops beeping and the screen never boots up, it remains dark.

The make is DELL
 

Cobster

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Apr 29, 2002
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Hell*
 

IggyP

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Aug 19, 2004
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Toronto
Also just open your case and make sure everything is seated properly in the slots... Ram, Video ect. There are some memory check programs that are out there on the net that can determine if you have a bad block on a ram module as well.
 

SilentLeviathan

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Oct 30, 2002
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IggyP said:
Also just open your case and make sure everything is seated properly in the slots... Ram, Video ect. There are some memory check programs that are out there on the net that can determine if you have a bad block on a ram module as well.
Download something like MEMTEST to check the RAM. Intermittent problems are also sometimes caused by overheating or by faulty power supplies. As pointed out above, the beep pattern usually means something.
 

yawsh

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Jul 15, 2005
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If after reseating you still have a problem try one RAM module at a time. This may let you know which module is bad.

Also check to see if the RAM slots are color matched. So when you have 4 slots two will be blue and two will be white (or whaterver color). This means with two RAM modules they will both be placed in the same color slots.
 

woolf

East end Hobbiest
The best memory checker I have ever used is the one that comes with the SUSE Linux install CD.

Download the first SUSE install CD ( ftp://carroll.cac.psu.edu/pub/linux...i386/current/iso/SUSE-10.0-CD-i386-GM-CD1.iso) Burn it to a CD. Boot up with the CD and instead of installing SUSE use the memory checking option.

This memory checker will run forever if you let it, but running for an hour or two will allow you to be more than confident of whether your memory is good or not (any errors displayed means your memory is flaky.)

I had a problem with my memory (didn't know it was memory problem at the time, I was trying to install a new OS, but the install would constantly hang at various points in the install) a few months back. I ran three or four of what are supposedly the best commercial memory checkers on the market and they told me my memory was fine ... I just happened to notice the SUSE install CD memory checking option while I was trying to install Suse for what was probably the 20th time, and decided to see what that options was all about ... in about 10 minutes it came up with the first memory error. I left it running for an hour or so, and it showed up over 40 memory errors.

I went out and bought some new memory and my problems went away.
 

chuck007

Fun Lover
Apr 18, 2005
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MemTest.org

The memory test included is MemTest86. Bootaable downloads are available (for floppy, SIO for CD, USB key) at http://www.memtest.org/.

Hope you got the computer fixed.
 

Esco!

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Nov 10, 2004
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Strangest thing happened, I turned the PC of and then on again and now its working fine :confused:
So then I turned it on and off about 5 times to make sure and its still working fine.

I never reseated the Mem sticks so I have no idea why its working now
 

chuck007

Fun Lover
Apr 18, 2005
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Hmmm - It was hot as hell (July 20) when you first posted about the problem. Could it be heat related? i.e. Is the PC in a non-Air Conditioned office or located where it was exposed to radiant heating from direct sunlight?

Just an idea...
 
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