old computer won't start up

computermaineack · 12-22-2006, 09:34 AM

hey guys...I was trying to get an old computer to start up so I could use it, but it was having some issues, and I don't know what's wrong. Here is the situation:

When I built this comp (the one in my sig) in June, I pulled a lot of things out of my old comp, a 2004 Dell Dimension 2400. I pulled the two 512mb sticks of ram i had, all the harddrives (the OEM 40gb, a 160gb, and 60gb), and the optical drive. When I reassembled it to try to use it, I put in a 128mb stick of ram that I found that was the original that came with the computer, the OEM 40gb drive that came with the computer as well, and the dvd player that came with the computer (a different drive than I was using, though). When everything was plugged in, I pressed the power button, and the computer started up....then three seconds later stopped. Before stopping, I did hear POST codes...a long beep, then short beep quickly following. A another maybe three seconds after it stopped, it started again, and again I heard the long beep/short beep POST code, and then another five seconds later there was another code...two long beeps.

Now, here's the problem. I don't get a picture on my monitor. The screen is all black with the power light blinking, like when the computer is in standby or something like that. If I pulled out the cable a little bit, I got the "Check Signal Connection" dialog, so I defineately know that the monitor was securely plugged into the computer. I doubled checked that the RAM was securely installed, and moved it over a socket. I made sure that the IDE connectors were firmly installed, and I also moved the IDE connection on the board over a socket, but I sitll have the same problems.

I have some theories as to why it's not working....I was thinking maybe PSU (would explain starting up and stopping) or the video processor, which is integrated into the motherboard. But I don't know why any of these would have just randomly stopped working...since June it's sat next to my bed...nothing was done to it that I can think of that would have caused problems....in fact, nothing was done to it at all since June.

Sorry for such a long post, but thanks for your help.
computermaineack

meanman · 12-22-2006, 11:48 AM

it could be bad ram try one of the sticks you took out for your other pc

StrangleHold · 12-22-2006, 02:40 PM

Most of what I found
One Long and one Short Beep Motherboard issue.

Mattu · 12-22-2006, 03:01 PM

Have you tried to clear the CMOS with the jumper setting on the motherboard?

computermaineack · 12-22-2006, 08:07 PM

yes, I took out the CMOS battery for 30 seconds and put it back in...same problem.

as for the ram..i don't see how it could be bad...I took it out and it has sat on my desk since then.

meanman · 12-24-2006, 09:34 AM

beeps from the mobo usally mean bad memory

computermaineack · 12-24-2006, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meanman

beeps from the mobo usally mean bad memory

Not necessarily...there are POST (power-on self test) beep codes that indicate if something is wrong. It doesn't always mean bad memory.

12-22-2006, 09:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
computermaineack Diamond Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,264	old computer won't start up hey guys...I was trying to get an old computer to start up so I could use it, but it was having some issues, and I don't know what's wrong. Here is the situation: When I built this comp (the one in my sig) in June, I pulled a lot of things out of my old comp, a 2004 Dell Dimension 2400. I pulled the two 512mb sticks of ram i had, all the harddrives (the OEM 40gb, a 160gb, and 60gb), and the optical drive. When I reassembled it to try to use it, I put in a 128mb stick of ram that I found that was the original that came with the computer, the OEM 40gb drive that came with the computer as well, and the dvd player that came with the computer (a different drive than I was using, though). When everything was plugged in, I pressed the power button, and the computer started up....then three seconds later stopped. Before stopping, I did hear POST codes...a long beep, then short beep quickly following. A another maybe three seconds after it stopped, it started again, and again I heard the long beep/short beep POST code, and then another five seconds later there was another code...two long beeps. Now, here's the problem. I don't get a picture on my monitor. The screen is all black with the power light blinking, like when the computer is in standby or something like that. If I pulled out the cable a little bit, I got the "Check Signal Connection" dialog, so I defineately know that the monitor was securely plugged into the computer. I doubled checked that the RAM was securely installed, and moved it over a socket. I made sure that the IDE connectors were firmly installed, and I also moved the IDE connection on the board over a socket, but I sitll have the same problems. I have some theories as to why it's not working....I was thinking maybe PSU (would explain starting up and stopping) or the video processor, which is integrated into the motherboard. But I don't know why any of these would have just randomly stopped working...since June it's sat next to my bed...nothing was done to it that I can think of that would have caused problems....in fact, nothing was done to it at all since June. Sorry for such a long post, but thanks for your help. computermaineack __________________ "Former Clinton advisor Dick Morris said, "Hillary Clinton will be the next President, but she'll be the worst President we've ever seen." After hearing this, President Bush said, "Wait a minute, I'm not finished yet."" -Conan O'Brien CPU: Q6600 G0 Mobo: eVGA 680i NF67-A1 Case: Antec P180B GPU: eVGA 8800GTS G92 512mb HSF: Tuniq Tower 120 RAM: 4gb DDR2-800 Corsair XMS2 4-4-4-12 PSU: Antec True Power Trio 550w

12-22-2006, 02:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
StrangleHold Diamond Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: In a realm of unknown Wonders Posts: 7,551	Most of what I found One Long and one Short Beep Motherboard issue. __________________ NZXT Apollo Athlon 64 X2 5600-3.3ghz. Gigabyte GA MA770 DS3 G Skill DDR2 1066-944mhz. 4gbs. PNY 8800GT/VD964 Cooler W/D Sata 3.0 500gb RE2 Humans are curious creatures and by nature insane. Lock us all in a room together and within hours we're dividing into groups, creating Gods and plotting on how to kill one another.

12-22-2006, 03:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mattu Gold Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Knoxville, Tennessee Posts: 431	Have you tried to clear the CMOS with the jumper setting on the motherboard? __________________ My Home Built Machine: Intel Pentium D 925 3GHz 1024MB DDR 2700 RAM Nvidia GeForce 7600 512MB

12-22-2006, 08:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
computermaineack Diamond Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,264	yes, I took out the CMOS battery for 30 seconds and put it back in...same problem. as for the ram..i don't see how it could be bad...I took it out and it has sat on my desk since then. __________________ "Former Clinton advisor Dick Morris said, "Hillary Clinton will be the next President, but she'll be the worst President we've ever seen." After hearing this, President Bush said, "Wait a minute, I'm not finished yet."" -Conan O'Brien CPU: Q6600 G0 Mobo: eVGA 680i NF67-A1 Case: Antec P180B GPU: eVGA 8800GTS G92 512mb HSF: Tuniq Tower 120 RAM: 4gb DDR2-800 Corsair XMS2 4-4-4-12 PSU: Antec True Power Trio 550w

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12-22-2006, 11:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
meanman Diamond Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: england Posts: 1,789	it could be bad ram try one of the sticks you took out for your other pc

12-24-2006, 09:34 AM	#6 (permalink)
meanman Diamond Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: england Posts: 1,789	beeps from the mobo usally mean bad memory

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