Desktop keeps shutting down and beeping.

Mommyofmonsters · 08-20-2009, 07:12 PM

Let me start off by saying, I have been having some serious problems with this desktop in the past year. It was in storage for a while with a missing slot on the back and mice had gotten into it at some point. I have no idea that the damage they had caused, but my original desktop went out and at this time I cannot afford a brand new replacement.

What I can say about it is that within the past month I put new RAM into it, it also has a 350 watt power supply that was replaced within the past 9 months. I do not turn it on, but once or twice a week, sometimes not even that much. It stores my photography pictures, used to edit them and I also print some of my work from the printer.

The problem is, I turn it on and once it's done loading up it will let me get as far as opening a browser then the screen will flicker black, then put the tower on standby and I get one beep, in a pattern, but it is delayed.

I have done 'some' reading and have found that this is a power supply/RAM or motherboard problem. I also read that I need to be able to get into BIOS, but I cannot click the F2 button (I think is what it was) to open BIOS and view any of the information.

My 'hope' is that this is just a RAM problem, but I thought since I am on my laptop doing my research into it... That I could ask here and see what you may think that it is. It is very frustrating as I have had a bad day at work and went to edit some pictures and print out my paperwork and poof.

It does this off and on also, over the past few weeks sometimes it will let me edit without a problem, sometimes I turn it on and it does this. I go to turn it back on after it does this and I get the Emachine page with the F10 and F2 to select and cannot input anything to do anything. I try to turn it on again sometimes and it boots normally, or goes back to the same page.

This is a Emachine 3400, I know, but at the current time I cannot replace it and I don't use it that often, really, but still needed when I do attempt to turn it on.

Any feedback is greatly appreciated!

((This computer is the XP computer, not the Vista))

**Tyree** · 08-20-2009, 08:27 PM

First I would suggest removing the side panel and visually inspect for any damage the rodents may have done. It sounds a lot like a power problem.
What Brand & Model is the replacement PSU? If you don't recall, you can look at the label on the PSU when you remove the side panel.

08-20-2009, 07:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mommyofmonsters Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1 OS: XP and Vista	Desktop keeps shutting down and beeping. Let me start off by saying, I have been having some serious problems with this desktop in the past year. It was in storage for a while with a missing slot on the back and mice had gotten into it at some point. I have no idea that the damage they had caused, but my original desktop went out and at this time I cannot afford a brand new replacement. What I can say about it is that within the past month I put new RAM into it, it also has a 350 watt power supply that was replaced within the past 9 months. I do not turn it on, but once or twice a week, sometimes not even that much. It stores my photography pictures, used to edit them and I also print some of my work from the printer. The problem is, I turn it on and once it's done loading up it will let me get as far as opening a browser then the screen will flicker black, then put the tower on standby and I get one beep, in a pattern, but it is delayed. I have done 'some' reading and have found that this is a power supply/RAM or motherboard problem. I also read that I need to be able to get into BIOS, but I cannot click the F2 button (I think is what it was) to open BIOS and view any of the information. My 'hope' is that this is just a RAM problem, but I thought since I am on my laptop doing my research into it... That I could ask here and see what you may think that it is. It is very frustrating as I have had a bad day at work and went to edit some pictures and print out my paperwork and poof. It does this off and on also, over the past few weeks sometimes it will let me edit without a problem, sometimes I turn it on and it does this. I go to turn it back on after it does this and I get the Emachine page with the F10 and F2 to select and cannot input anything to do anything. I try to turn it on again sometimes and it boots normally, or goes back to the same page. This is a Emachine 3400, I know, but at the current time I cannot replace it and I don't use it that often, really, but still needed when I do attempt to turn it on. Any feedback is greatly appreciated! ((This computer is the XP computer, not the Vista))

08-20-2009, 08:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tyree Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,746 OS: XP Pro-7RC-Mandriva My System	Re: Desktop keeps shutting down and beeping. First I would suggest removing the side panel and visually inspect for any damage the rodents may have done. It sounds a lot like a power problem. What Brand & Model is the replacement PSU? If you don't recall, you can look at the label on the PSU when you remove the side panel. __________________ Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently.