Need Help Desperately PC won't boot w/ Long Beep

[wkim623]

Ok here's my problem,

When I try and turn on the pc, the monitor stays black and the machine does one long beep. All the fans on the machine are running, and when you just start the machine you can hear things turn for a brief moment then the beeps start.

I've followed the manual provided by the manufacturer, and did the following.

1. Reset the BIOS
2. Put "known" working RAM chips in the slots.
3. Replaced it with also another "known" working video card. 2 actually.
4. I've even put the memory in all different slots. (2sticks of 256MB)
5. I also followed a suggestion of replacing the P/S from an online website and still nothing. I really thought this was the fix. =(

Anyhow, the PC still doesn't work obviously and I'm stuck. I really don't want to have to replace the whole M/B or processor, that will be my last effort. Just too costly, but almost there. Oh and one more thing, one of the main reasons, besides the long beep I thought the P/S was the problem is that it booted up after sitting there for a couple of hours w/o me touching it.

Description of the machine, M/B SOYO PS4 Dragon Ultra, it currently runs w/ a P4 Processor 2.4 GHz. PC2700 DDR 512 MB with a GEFORCE4 64 MB card. It has a 300 WATT P/S.


Any help would be greatly appreciated, since I'm stuck on what else to do =(.

WK

 

[redeye53]

One long beep usually says video problem. Do you have the 4 pin power connector plugged in to the board? Also this board has an AGP pro slot... Is the little white plastic spacer in place... If not the video card can creep in the slot and no boot. Ed

 

[SYAR2003]

Hi !
If the motherboard has an award bios ,with it has if it's this one:

http://www.soyo.com.tw/products/proddesc.php?id=6

The beep codes are:

1long, 2 short:
Video adapter error Either video adapter is bad or is not seated properly.
Also, check to ensure the monitor cable is connected properly.

Repeating (endless loop):
Memory error Check for improperly seated or missing memory.

1long, 3short:
No video card or bad video RAM Reseat or replace the video card.

High frequency beeeps while running:
Overheated CPU Check the CPU fan for proper operation. Check the case for proper air flow.

Repeating High/Low:
CPU Either the CPU is not seated properly or the CPU is damaged. May also be due to excess heat. Check the CPU fan or BIOS settings for proper fan speed.

So interpeting your beep code i assume it's a continious one
(enless loop) witch means the bios can't initiate the memory .

Check first with one memory chip in the dimm0 slot
and see if the bios post.

Also make sure that the memory you have is
according to mb spec.
184-pin PC2700/PC2100 non-ECC, unbuffered DDR SDRAM .
Try to test the system with another memory module that
you have borrowed or something.
Also make sure you have connected the extra P4 12v connector
from the psu to the mb.


syar

 

[wkim623]

Thanks for your replies, I will try what you suggested Syar. Yes everything is plugged in and the bar is still in there. Yes, those are my specs of the machine. Is it possible that both sticks are shot? I guess anything is possible. I will have to find memory that has those specs, didn't think of it. The memory I tested it with was from my other pc which is DDR 2100 memory sticks, but dunno now if it's the one compatible with this board. Could I have damaged the board this way? Anyway I will have to prolly buy one from best buy or something when I turn in my p/s.

 

[paparazi]

It is doughful that both ram sticks are shot so try one at a time.
Also take the motherboard down to bare minimum, remove all add on cards etc just leave CPU/fan, PSU,
1 stick of memory and the video card only, reseat everything including the main power plug to motherboard.
Reset the Cmos clear jumper or remove the battery.
Martin

Replying helps further our knowledge, without comment leaves us wondering.

 

[wkim623]

Paparazi,

I did that last night, with 1 chip at a time. Reset the BIOS, by shorting the jumper as it said in the manual. I didn't however take the battery out for each one.

Now that I remember, a couple weeks ago a friend of mine had a problem with his pc, and i checked it on my pc w/ his memory since he only had 1 stick to see if it worked on my pc. Since I thought all DDR was the same, since then if I think about it this all started happening. Could that have caused my BIOS act all funky. When I did the test it worked, and recogonized 1GB.

 

[bcastner]

Google "leaking motherboard capacitors"

 

[wkim623]

I just talked to someone at work, and they told me they had the same type of problem because the M/B was being shorted by the case. (The base housing) Could this cause this problem? I thought if it was being short the machine won't start at all?

 

[ceh4702]

This can be a bad power supply. Sometimes the Fan 12V lines work and the 3.3volt lines do not work or something similar.

If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[wkim623]

I've already replaced the P/S, still didn't work. =(

 

[HondaSir]

I had the one long beep problem the other day. I had messed something up in my BIOS. My guess is that you played around with something and messed it up. Try to reset the bios. Use a paperclip to short the connection where the battery was.

 

[wkim623]

Hondasir,

I did mess with the BIOS and I have tried to reset the BIOS via the manual. By shorting jumpers 2 and 3, and it still didn't work. I also took out the CMOS, and left it out for a good 30 minutes, should've been long enough. =p

As I said it did boot up again, at least 3 times when I stopped playing with it (Couple hours in between). Checked the BIOS the time was set back to January 1st, 2002.

I'm assuming the BIOS has been reset. How did you reset the CMOS by shorting it with a paper clip?

 

[wkim623]

Question, can I pull the motherboard of the metal plate and check if it runs? Or is that a waste of time?

 

[franklin97355]

Anything you do to test and isolate the problem is not a waste of time. After you reset the BIOS (date set to 2002) does it stay correct after a shutdown? If not the battery may need replacing.

 

[wkim623]

Well, I never checked that, but I don't think a bad CMOS battery would cause me not to POST right? I think it will just reset to the default, and it worked fine when it was in default when I first bought the machine. Correct me if I'm wrong. =p

 

[Freestone]

Don't ignore bcastner's advice: Google "leaking motherboard capacitors". This capacitor problem is widespread. If you are going to remove the motherboard, then would be a good time to check for this problem.

 

[bcastner]

See, for example:

http://www.motherboardrepair.com/