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[SOLVED] 1 long beep 3 short problem.

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376K views 34 replies 5 participants last post by  Fireface  
F
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hello, people. I got a P5B Asus motherboard and everything was working fine until I normally did a shutdown on my PC and the next day it wasn't working. I had (and I still have) 1 long beep and 3 short beeps.

After I was searching for the problem and the beep codes' meaning, I found out that the problem is the RAM or the video card. I tried to reseat everything, including the RAM and video card, but still, nothing works. When I open my PC, it takes about 20 seconds without a beep and then the 1 long and 3 short appear. After a pause of 2-3 secs, I get another 2 short beeps.

The thing is that I can't understand how suddenly that happened while my pc was closed normally and was working without problem. Any advice that I can try more than reseating my video card or rams??

Thanks and sorry if this is the wrong section for such a thread like this.
 
#2 ·
Re: 1 long beep 3 short problem.

Hi Fireface,

I recommend testing your ram for any errors. Use a good memory testing program called "Memtest86+" to test your computer memory for any errors. Got to a working computer, download the program, put it onto a CD, and boot your computer to the Memtest86+ CD. Here is the link to the Memtest86+ program: Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

Hope everything works out for you.
 
#4 ·
Re: 1 long beep 3 short problem.

One Long and 3 Short Beeps refer to a RAM problem for AMI Bios.
The two beeps later indicate a graphics problem.
Remove all the RAM, power on the PC and listen for a repeated single beep from the Mobo speaker. If you hear that beep the Mobo is probably OK.
Brand & Model of CPU-RAM-Graphics-PSU.
 
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#5 · (Edited by Moderator)
After a full search I find out that those beeps means ram or video card problems indeed. I don't know what BIOS version I'm running (AMI etc.) but I really tried to take off the rams and the repeated beeps came up. So as you said MOBO works fine ( I don't know what MOBO is tbh). My standard rams are transcend 2x 1 gb. Though my friend gave me 2 x1 gb apacer rams and I used them fine for about 2 months (used them fine means they fully worked and recognized as 4gb of ram from the system). I also tried use the standard rams in different slots but still same problem. So finally I checked to remove the graphics card from the pc and power it on and still same beeps followed by 2 small beeps. My graphic card is 9800GT on 250 or 512 memory.

I figured out that when I'm taking the graphics card out the beeps are made instantly 1 long 3 short and then 2 short. But when the card is on, it takes about 20 secs until the beeps appear.
So I'm pretty sure the problem is the video card.

Though, the fan is working fine. I tried to reseat it and even pushing it more and power on but still fail.

Plus sometimes when I power on the pc a strange smell coming out but doesn't smell like burn, something more mechanical smell, weird one.

Finally after 1 long 3 short beeps there are 3 short beeps and not 2. And now my pc shuts down after those 3 beeps. So back to RAM problems.
 
G
#6 ·
Re: 1 long beep 3 short problem.

have you followed the advice above and downloaded memtest 86 to test your ram?

memtest should be run with one stick installed for several passes then swap sticks and run again for several passes.
 
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#7 ·
It doesn't showing anything on the screen mate. How am I supposed to boot a CD. Nothing showing up and my pc sometimes doing 1 long 3 short then 2 short and somtimes 1 long 3 short then 3 short.... *** is going on that's pissing me off :S
 
G
#8 ·
Re: 1 long beep 3 short problem.

you dont see anything on screen at all.

try a cmos reset.

switch power off at wall do not unplug
open the case a locate the battery
remove the battery
if there are jumpers move the jumper from 1 & 2 to 2 & 3 or clr cmos
press power button
put battery back in
if you moved the jumper then move it back to its original position
put battery back in
close case
switch on at wall
power up.
 
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#10 ·
Re: 1 long beep 3 short problem.


Correct.
After clearing the CMOS, try booting with one stick of the original RAM.

Mixing RAM brands/specs commonly causes issues. Filling all the RAM slots on the Mobo can cause Voltage issues.
 
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#12 ·
Re: 1 long beep 3 short problem.

If you use the jumper you do not need to remove the battery. UNPLUG the power cord to the PSU, push the Power button a few times, move the jumper from pins 1 & 2 to pins 2 & 3 for ten seconds, move the jumper back to pins 1 & 2, attempt to boot using one stick of the original RAM.
 
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#14 ·
Re: 1 long beep 3 short problem.

these are the actual asus instructions

cmos reset
turn the computer off
remove the power lead from the back
take the side off
remove the cmos battery
move the cmos jumper from pins 1 and 2 to pin 2 and 3 and the back to pins 1 and 2
reinsert the battery
put the side on
replug in the power lead
boot the computer

what are you running
video card
cpu
m/board
ram
power supply
brand
model
wattage
 
F
#23 ·
Because I tried everything and doesn't work. And I can't buy different PSU or RAM or whatever because I'm out of y hometown to another city for college.

So, I dont have the economical help to buy new hardware.

Nor the CMOS reset worked neither reseating everything..

I'm officially pissed off by a machine that isn't working suddenly a morning I tried to start it up. This is so bad.
 
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