Keep getting constant beep faults when I start my PC?

[BomberAF]

For some reason when I turn my PC on it wont turn on and I just get a constant beeping. If I change all the USB ports then it will boot up but what is causing this it really doesn't make any sense.

Any help appreciated.

Regards

AF

 

[mickey megabyte]

are you comfortable with opening up your case and poking about?

i would remove all ram sticks, give them and the ports they slot into a good clean with an old toothbrush, then reinsert them.

do the same for all your pci cards.

(while you're there, you may as well clean all fans you can see too - it's not the cause of your problem, but it's good maintenance.)

 

[TVeblen]

The beeping is most likely BIOS beep codes. These occur when there is a hardware failure that prevents the BIOS from completing its POST operation.

Translation: a component is not working.

If you listen closely you can hear a pattern to the beeps, like Morse Code. 2 short - pause - 2 short, or 1 long - 2 short - pause - 1 long - 2 short.
Or it can just beep the same tone constantly.

You can find a list of beep codes in your motherboard's manual. If you do not have a manual then let us know what the pattern is and what motherboard you have and we can help you.

You can start, as MM has suggested, by checking all of your wiring connections and re-seating the major components to make sure nothing has come loose. Use proper static precautions while working inside the case!

 

[BomberAF]

are you comfortable with opening up your case and poking about?

i would remove all ram sticks, give them and the ports they slot into a good clean with an old toothbrush, then reinsert them.

do the same for all your pci cards.

(while you're there, you may as well clean all fans you can see too - it's not the cause of your problem, but it's good maintenance.)

I have no probs installing hardware etc, but not too sure I want to start sticking an old toothbrush in my PC. Anyway it is something to do with the USB attached devices that are causing the problem, if I swap the ports they go into then the problem sorts itself out.

 

[BomberAF]

The beeping is most likely BIOS beep codes. These occur when there is a hardware failure that prevents the BIOS from completing its POST operation.

Translation: a component is not working.

If you listen closely you can hear a pattern to the beeps, like Morse Code. 2 short - pause - 2 short, or 1 long - 2 short - pause - 1 long - 2 short.
Or it can just beep the same tone constantly.

You can find a list of beep codes in your motherboard's manual. If you do not have a manual then let us know what the pattern is and what motherboard you have and we can help you.

You can start, as MM has suggested, by checking all of your wiring connections and re-seating the major components to make sure nothing has come loose. Use proper static precautions while working inside the case!

No it's not a constant tone but a beep, beep, beep constantly. I was thinking about looking at the beep codes but as the problem seems to be rectified after messing about with the USB ports I wsan't sure it would help but I will give it a go.

Thanks.

 

[TVeblen]

The USB ports that cause the problem, are they the ports in the front of the computer case, or the ones in the back that are connected directly to the motherboard?

 

[BomberAF]

The USB ports that cause the problem, are they the ports in the front of the computer case, or the ones in the back that are connected directly to the motherboard?

It is happening to both sets of USB ports, I sorted it out the first time by putting the USB cables in the ports on the front,but when I powered down and then turned it on again I got the same beeping so had to do another swap.

 

[TVeblen]

I'm thinking it has something to do with the USB device you are plugging in or the USB cable itself.

What is the USB device you are plugging in? Are there more than one?

Do you get this behavior with any USB device, or just one, or a particular combination of devices?

I would run some tests. It's either the USB device or the southbridge controller. You do not want it to be the controller.

 

[TVeblen]

Hey, gotta run.
But here is the "official" constant beep code for both AMI and AWARD Bios:

Continuous Beeping: Memory or video problem
Explanation: The system is producing constant beeping in no specific pattern, or a fast "ringing" sound.
Diagnosis: This is usually caused by a problem with the system memory, or possibly the video card. The memory is more likely--the system complains long and loud if it can't find any usable memory, as there is no way to even start the boot process when this is the case. The motherboard itself could also be the problem.
Recommendation:
Troubleshoot the system memory.
Troubleshoot the video card.
Troubleshoot the motherboard.

Good luck. I'll check back later.

 

[BomberAF]

How do I trouble shoot the above mentioned items?

 

[mickey megabyte]

have you tried cleaning and reseating your ram and cards yet?

if you're really worried about using an old toothbrush, use a new one. it's a useful tool to remove dust and crap from motherboard slots - a good size, a decent handle, and lots of control. or use canned air - but you're more likely to have a toothbrush around the place than a can of compressed air, or maybe not...

you can troubleshoot your ram by booting with only one stick at a time, or try something like memtest to give it a real workout.

troubleshooting your gfx card or mobo is more difficult.

i am a bit confused about the usb issue too...but you have to try one thing at a time to see if that works.

 

[BomberAF]

have you tried cleaning and reseating your ram and cards yet?

if you're really worried about using an old toothbrush, use a new one. it's a useful tool to remove dust and crap from motherboard slots - a good size, a decent handle, and lots of control. or use canned air - but you're more likely to have a toothbrush around the place than a can of compressed air, or maybe not...

you can troubleshoot your ram by booting with only one stick at a time, or try something like memtest to give it a real workout.

troubleshooting your gfx card or mobo is more difficult.

i am a bit confused about the usb issue too...but you have to try one thing at a time to see if that works.

For some reason it seems to have sorted itself out now anway, I think it has something to do with the drivers of the devices that the USB cables are for i.e. keyboard & mouse.

I wasn't worried about only using an old toothbrush but about using a toothbrush period.