When I turn my computer on it makes its usual startup whirring noise about ten times louder than normal, then a loud beeping starts. There's also a small red light shining from inside the case. When the monitor is turned on it says that the monitor is working correctly but below that: "Check computer power and monitor cable". I bought new cables but got the same message, so it isn't the cables. The beeping and whirring continues until I unplug the computer (because it won't turn off otherwise). I got it to work today by lying the case on its side, if that points to any particular problem. Help?
maybe there's just a loose cable. check all cables and make sure it's all connected properly. especially the monitor cable. check also the video card if it is inserted in your board properly.
Thanks for the reply. The cables are connected properly. Your suggestion gave me a term to go on so I did some research. Looks like I'll have to check the video card and a few other things. I'll post again afterward and tell how it went.
you need to check what the beeping means with you mobo maker. it sounds like its the gcard not seated, but it could also be the ram.
yes check also the video card if it is inserted in your board properly if any part of a card touches the side of your motherboard (between the comp.case and the closest to that point were your mother board is) you will have some problems.
I couldn't get the case open. But I was able to trick the computer into working again, so I found out, and now here I am. Now there are only three beeps. The official diagnosis is memory failure in the first 64 KB. But it seems likely that something was jarred loose. Is there any way to fix this without having to turn the computer off? If I can't trick it into working again I'd be stuck.
it will need to off to fix it i think. that sounds like the ram needs to be removed and reseated and that should do it. if it doesnt it means the mobo is broke and you need another. you could just use the other ram ports on the board if you can find out which one is faulty but that would limit your capacity.
i googled "three beeps when starting computer" and found this http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/archive/r0803/38r03/38r03.asp hope it helps
Problem solved! I gently adjusted everything that moved so I'm not certain what the problem was. But my computer is working fine again. Thanks a lot.
