Just built a computer from old and new parts, and it won't boot

Danny McGee · 07-10-2008, 07:34 PM

I just built this computer from a mix of new and used parts, and it's giving me a very odd beep error code. I can't figure out what's wrong. I tried replacing the video card and I'm getting the exact same results. The CPU was OEM from Newegg, so if it's DOA I need to know pronto so I can send it back for a replacement. Here are the specs:

Motherboard: Abit BE7II Socket 478 - Used and verified working properly on previous system
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS (no idea what version because I'm getting a blank screen)
CPU: Pentium 4 Prescott 3.0 GHz OEM - New
CPU Fan: Rosewill Hyper silence 478 - New, rated for up to P4 3.4GHz Prescott
PSU: Antec 300W - Used, see notes below
Video Card 1: BFG Tech GeForce 6800 GS OC 512MB AGP - Used, see notes below
Video Card 2: PNY GeForce 6200 256MB AGP - Used and verified working properly on previous system
Memory: Corsair 1GB 184-Pin DDR 333 ECC Registered Server Memory - New

What's happening:
I press the power button and can hear (and see) the fans powering on normally. The screen remains blank. Immediately I hear one very long beep. After a brief pause, I hear the same beep, which soon changes to a lower, continuous, alternating beep which then changes to a higher, continuous, alternating beep and then changes again to a lower, continuous, alternating beep. I know that sounds confusing, so I recorded it and attached it as a wave file.

Troubleshooting steps:
1. I removed a PCI card that was expendable and tried to boot again. Same results.
2. I replaced Video Card 1 with Video Card 2 and tried to boot again. Same results.
3. I cleared the CMOS and tried to boot again. Same results.
4. I removed the memory and reseated it, and tried to boot again. Same results.

Notes:
Video Card 1 and the PSU were being used in a previous system that catastrophically died. I couldn't figure out what was causing the issue with that system, so I retired it. I just recently got the motherboard and Video Card 2 from a friend for free (he upgraded his system and gave them to me because he knew I didn't have a decent working system), bought the "new" parts from NewEgg, and am re-using my old case, PSU, DVD burner, and HDDs.

As soon as I'm able to, I'm going to try booting with a different PSU and see if that fixes the problem. In the meantime I'm wondering if anyone has had this problem before, knows what the beep code means, or might be able to find out for me. Any help would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,
Danny

magnethead · 07-10-2008, 07:39 PM

pheonix KISS's. it's either video or RAM if it beeps. anythign else will be put on screen.

one or the other.

Danny McGee · 07-10-2008, 08:38 PM

Wow, you nailed it. Thanks a ton. I replaced the memory with a 512 stick from my old computer and it booted up. Well, sort of.

Now I'm getting a different error: I turn it on, no abnormal beeps, screen information displays normally, then it displays a text error that says "CPU is unworkable or has been changed. Check Soft[somethingorother]."

I went into Setup and selected the Soft___ option, and the FSB is set correctly to 800, but the clock speed is displaying as 1.50 GHz (it's a 3 GHz processor). Bad CPU, or do I just have to change some setting in the BIOS?

This happened after I got a checksum error saying the CMOS had been reset to default (I'm assuming because I cleared the CMOS earlier). I went into Setup and changed the boot device to CDROM so I could install Windows, and when I booted again that's when I got the CPU error.

magnethead · 07-10-2008, 10:32 PM

are you trying to install vista, XP, or 2K?

Is the BIOS up to date?

Danny McGee · 07-10-2008, 11:33 PM

XP. Not planning on moving to Vista anytime soon.

I have no idea if my BIOS is up to date, but I doubt it.

dai · 07-11-2008, 05:25 AM

try with a 450W+

07-10-2008, 07:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
magnethead Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: TX Posts: 1,786 OS: XPH, 2K My System Blog Entries: 2	Re: Just built a computer from old and new parts, and it won't boot pheonix KISS's. it's either video or RAM if it beeps. anythign else will be put on screen. one or the other. __________________ AIM me: MAGNET794 For proper support: what are you running? video card, cpu, m/board, ram, power supply, brand, wattage, any error message? PCI-E requires 26 amps at 12 volts. That's a 650W PSU. Power Supply Info and Selection . Info on thermal compounds & application . TEST PSU USING MULTI-METER

07-10-2008, 08:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
Danny McGee Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 7 OS: Windows XP SP2	Re: Just built a computer from old and new parts, and it won't boot Wow, you nailed it. Thanks a ton. I replaced the memory with a 512 stick from my old computer and it booted up. Well, sort of. Now I'm getting a different error: I turn it on, no abnormal beeps, screen information displays normally, then it displays a text error that says "CPU is unworkable or has been changed. Check Soft[somethingorother]." I went into Setup and selected the Soft___ option, and the FSB is set correctly to 800, but the clock speed is displaying as 1.50 GHz (it's a 3 GHz processor). Bad CPU, or do I just have to change some setting in the BIOS? This happened after I got a checksum error saying the CMOS had been reset to default (I'm assuming because I cleared the CMOS earlier). I went into Setup and changed the boot device to CDROM so I could install Windows, and when I booted again that's when I got the CPU error. Last edited by Danny McGee : 07-10-2008 at 08:41 PM.

07-10-2008, 10:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
magnethead Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: TX Posts: 1,786 OS: XPH, 2K My System Blog Entries: 2	Re: Just built a computer from old and new parts, and it won't boot are you trying to install vista, XP, or 2K? Is the BIOS up to date? __________________ AIM me: MAGNET794 For proper support: what are you running? video card, cpu, m/board, ram, power supply, brand, wattage, any error message? PCI-E requires 26 amps at 12 volts. That's a 650W PSU. Power Supply Info and Selection . Info on thermal compounds & application . TEST PSU USING MULTI-METER

07-10-2008, 11:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
Danny McGee Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 7 OS: Windows XP SP2	Re: Just built a computer from old and new parts, and it won't boot XP. Not planning on moving to Vista anytime soon. I have no idea if my BIOS is up to date, but I doubt it.

07-11-2008, 05:25 AM	#6 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 40,334 OS: vista 32x ultimate retail	Re: Just built a computer from old and new parts, and it won't boot try with a 450W+ __________________