Tue May 31, 2005    Reply         

This has happened to me before and this is what I did. Probably, the computer does not have an in-built VGA card. So try opening up the case and make sure that the VGA card is properly fixed in its slot. When the VGA (graphics) card is not properly in place, it gives out three long beeps and shuts down the computer. While you're at it, also check if the RAM is properly fixed in its slot. Try removing the VGA and RAM and fixing them back in place. This should solve the problem. Hope this helps.

   Tue May 31, 2005    Reply         

I'm with Furor on this one. It happened to me more than once, while I had a PCI graphics card, to find it just slightly out of position. Of course, there is always a possibility that something else is screwed up. As Furor said, RAM caould also cause trouble. If there is only one memory module, and it breaks up, you also get beeps, although, I noticed a different types of beeps, on different MB's.

But, my best guess is, that it's graphics card. Remove it, check the contacts, clean them, blow out any dust from the AGP slot (dust tends to crawl up in there ), and place it back, firmly screwing it in. If the graphics card is firmly in, and you still get three long beeps, it could mean that it's about to die (graphics card I mean). If you do not hear three LONG beeps, than check RAM modules.

Also you mentioned the computer turns off... I never had my computer turn off, it would just sound three long beeps, and stay turned on, but not booting up... That kind of confuses me... Maybe it's RAM module(s)... Also, good idea to check if those things work, is to take them out, and try them on you machine. That would kind of give you some clue what to do next...

Guess that's all the help we could give you... Inform us of your progress...

   Tue May 31, 2005    Reply         

   Tue May 31, 2005    Reply         

   Tue May 31, 2005    Reply         

the error beeps (or POST/power-on-self-test) can help diagnose the problem:
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1223
http://www.hi-tech.net/zones/help-beep.html
http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm

hopefully, after erring hardware is identified, you can finally resolve the problem.

   Tue May 31, 2005    Reply         

   Thu Jun 2, 2005    Reply         

   Thu Jun 2, 2005    Reply         

QUOTE (mizako)

At the end it seems that my friend's graphic card is broken. I borrowed him mine old one and now it works. Can a graphic card be broken by a Virus?

view Post: 146957

Well, if it can, I never heard of it... I seriousely doubt your friends graphics card breaking down, has anything with any sort of virus. I would put money on some sort of power surge, maybe factory defect, or his graphics card is just plain old

Though, I think those old components were built to last, while these new hi-tech gizmos are built to last you a year or two, and then force you to buy new version of that hardware...

Anyways, to cut my philosophy short, chances that virus messed up your friends graphics card, is about 0.001 percent

   Fri Jun 3, 2005    Reply         

QUOTE (Galahad)

Well, if it can, I never heard of it... I seriousely doubt your friends graphics card breaking down, has anything with any sort of virus. I would put money on some sort of power surge, maybe factory defect, or his graphics card is just plain old

Though, I think those old components were built to last, while these new hi-tech gizmos are built to last you a year or two, and then force you to buy new version of that hardware...

Anyways, to cut my philosophy short, chances that virus messed up your friends graphics card, is about 0.001 percent

view Post: 147301

The funny thing is that the graphic card has less than a year. It is still on guaranty!!! He already brought it to the shop. ;-)

   Mon Jun 6, 2005    Reply         

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   Mon Sep 1, 2008    Reply         

Please, if It's possible, take a picture with a camera or something similar. This way, we can check the problem aswell as think about/of it, and we can give more support to what's causing this.

My guess, is that one specific BIOS setting was messed with, causing a black out to your computer.
Try turning off your computer, wait for 5 minutes at the most for the electricity to drain out of your computer, and take off your computers cover.

Please NOTE: Try not to have alot of static shocks in your fingers, even though we may not know it, your little chips in your computer can fry within seconds. No smell, no feel, and is also invisible to our eyes.
Take off your cover by un-screwing the cover, and find a very small circle shaped button. This is located on your BIOS chip.
Pressing this button will reset all of your BIOS settings to the default settings on your computer.

Your BIOS chip may look something like this:



See the little button at the top right? You need to press that button in order to reset your BIOS to the default settings.
I know this because this happened to me aswell.
Even if this is not the case of what's wrong, It is still helpful for future support. If this is not the same problem I had, then use this if it ever does happen.

-Sky

   Mon Sep 1, 2008    Reply         

   Mon Sep 1, 2008    Reply         

QUOTE (innosia)

I have a dell inspiron 1420 laptop too... is that going to happen to me? hope not!

Yes if computer when turn on is beeps and dont load the operating system, it must have problem with memory or video card. To test the memory, try changing slot, change the memory, to determine whether the slot is damage or your memory.
Link: view Post: 405814

having problem with a single Inspiron 1420 doesn't mean all the inspirons have this defect.. I've seen atleast two 1420 for around 6 months now and they are running properly without any problem.. Manufacturing defects are there with every product but that doesn't mean ppl stop buying that product .. Even Nokia has more than 30% failure rate but ppl still buy nokia phones

   Mon Sep 22, 2008    Reply         

No idea if it's of any help, but my computer did that after there was a power outage... I guess there was a surge of power that went through the lines and into my computer (even though its in a plug with surge protection... stupid machines!) anyway, after the power came back on, my computer wouldn't start up and it just beeped and turned off.

So I took it to the repair shop, and it was the some power box or something inside of it was blown, so they replaced it with a new one and everything worked out fine since then I was so worried that I'd need to spend a lot, but luckily it was only like $80 to replace whatever it was that broke. Much cheaper than a new computer lol...

   Mon Sep 22, 2008    Reply         

   Mon Sep 22, 2008    Reply         

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