Comp doesnt get past POST. 3 long beeps, pause then repeat. HELP!

[Artonox]

Hi guys need urgent help, so first of all, thank you for reading up on my problem.

This morning all was well, when i used my computer. When i wanted to use it again this afternoon, the dreadful thing happened:

I press the power on button, the comp then starts to have 3 continuous beeps (long beeps as well - they are longer than that short beep that you get when you start the comp), a pause and then a repeat. The monitor does not show anything at all.

I really didnt want to hassle since im a noob, so i proceeded to research online via a laptop (this one im using to post this) and found out that 3 continuous beeps means the ram is at fault (i may b wrong here, since my mobo is asrock and it may b different - the manual doesnt tell me anything D.

So i removed all 4 1gb sticks of ram, removed everything except my hard drive in which i know works and the graphics card to make sure i still have the monitor. Then i tried a single stick in each ram slot, booting up each time. No success here.

I then thought it might be the bios, so i then changed the Jumper to "clear", turned the comp back on for a minute (and endure the 3 beeps of annoyance) before putting back the jumper to "normal". No success.

I then repeated the memory module swap on another slot incase it was the slot that was the problem. Again, no success.


It was only then, i realised, that im stuck on what is wrong with the comp.

Everything was ok this morning... wtf happened here? Please help

[Splash]

What make/model is your motherboard?

[Artonox]

asrock ALiveNF5SLI-1394

http://www.asrock.com/MB/overview.as...iveNF5SLI-1394
more info here if needed about it

[Splash]

AMI BIOS then, suggests strongly that you have a memory fault. You have 4 DIMMs - have you tested each module seperately?

[Artonox]

ive tried it on 2 slots (so 8 attempts)

ill try it on the other 2 slots and ill reply here soon

[Splash]

What if you boot with no RAM installed? Same beep code, or a different one?

[Artonox]

ok ive tested all the slots.
ive used a single ram in one of the slots, turned on the comp and the beeps are still there.
changed to another slot and repeat

all the same result

[Artonox]

also checked with no ram in all the slots.

I get the same 3 long beeps

[Splash]

That would rather suggest that your board is screwed in that case, I'm afraid.

EDIT - or potentially your CPU...

[Artonox]

D:
so you think i should get a new board to cover this?
what do you think happened that caused this?

[Splash]

Just edited my last post - entirely possible it's the CPU too, can't remember where the memory controller lives on those... Is it at all possible that you could get your hands on a known working AM2 CPU to test it with?

As for what caused it? If I had to guess I'd go for either overheating or power problems, being as they're the big killer for most components.

[Artonox]

hmmm gonna have to go around to find the correct replacements D:

Anyways, thank you very much for helpin me. I guess its gonna cost me a small fortune.

[TheWizard]

Are you using a USB or PS/2 mouse or keyboard? Your bios may not even load until the problem relating to input are fixed. If you are using PS/2 keyboard/mouse then unplug and check if the pins are straight (undamaged).

[Artonox]

hey thewizard, i use usb keyboard +mouse to control the comp but ive scavenged back my old ps/2 stuff and they did not do anything to change the circumstance D:

[amarcus]

Just thought I'd throw this out there: What PSU are you using? I had a similar thing happen to me once and I eventually tacked it down to a dodgy power supply.

Adam

EDIT: Thinking about it now... my money's on the motherboard!

[Artonox]

hey, armarcus, the power supply is a coolermaster make - 600w and it costed £60 when i got it. I think its overkill for my setup (better to b too much than too little though). Anyways, now ive checked the pins on the cpu to see if its been bent for some reason. Ive disconnected all the drives, the sound card and the dvd/floppy drives.

Ive tried to turn on the comp now and now all it does is cause the fan to spin. The speaker is plugged in and it doesnt even wanna beep anymore.

ive replugged everything, from the graphics, to the led lights, speakers and fans even. All it does now when i turn on the comp, is turn everything on (fans, harddrive spins etc), but still no output, even though the graphics are spinning its fans.
i swear, im really tempted to point at the motherboard D: