I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that
I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and
have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all
checked out and settled in.

Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one
second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The
drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of
lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it
goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of
the computer flash a few times, then everything stops.

I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and
also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither
boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light flashes
a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP.

Any ideas as to what I might try next?

Thanks, Gordon

Antares 531 wrote:
> I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard
> that I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer
> and have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all
> checked out and settled in.
>
> Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one
> second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The
> drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of
> lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it
> goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of
> the computer flash a few times, then everything stops.
>
> I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and
> also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither
> boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light
> flashes a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the
> BEEP.
>
> Any ideas as to what I might try next?

Your problem is *not* software. It is hardware.

Unhook everything from power, open the case and clean it out of dust with
compressed (canned) air. Remove/unhook all parts (one at a time) that can
be disconnected/removed and put them back ion place (just unhook them,
immediately hook them back up, move on to the next part.) Do this for the
hard disk drive cables (power included), CD cables (power included),
motherboard power, memory, even the processor if you feel comfortable doing
so. Then put the case cover back on, secure all the external connections
and turn it back on.

If that fails - chances are some hardware you just touched has died - it
happens.

How's your backups? ;-)

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 09:41:38 -0600, "Shenan Stanley"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Antares 531 wrote:
>> I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard
>> that I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer
>> and have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all
>> checked out and settled in.
>>
>> Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one
>> second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The
>> drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of
>> lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it
>> goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of
>> the computer flash a few times, then everything stops.
>>
>> I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and
>> also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither
>> boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light
>> flashes a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the
>> BEEP.
>>
>> Any ideas as to what I might try next?
>
>Your problem is *not* software. It is hardware.
>
>Unhook everything from power, open the case and clean it out of dust with
>compressed (canned) air. Remove/unhook all parts (one at a time) that can
>be disconnected/removed and put them back ion place (just unhook them,
>immediately hook them back up, move on to the next part.) Do this for the
>hard disk drive cables (power included), CD cables (power included),
>motherboard power, memory, even the processor if you feel comfortable doing
>so. Then put the case cover back on, secure all the external connections
>and turn it back on.
>
>If that fails - chances are some hardware you just touched has died - it
>happens.
>
>How's your backups? ;-)
>
>--
>Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
>
Thanks, Stanley, I'll do this and see if I can resolve the problem. I
already did a dust bunny clean-up and pressed the RAM, add-in cards
and other connections to make sure they were in place. Maybe removing
and re-inserting these will resolve the problem.

Fortunately, I got my new computer up and running and all my important
stuff moved over to it before this happened. I'm out in the clear as
far as backups are concerned.

Gordon

"Antares 531" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that
> I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and
> have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all
> checked out and settled in.
>
> Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one
> second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The
> drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of
> lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it
> goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of
> the computer flash a few times, then everything stops.
>
> I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and
> also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither
> boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light flashes
> a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP.
>
> Any ideas as to what I might try next?

That model mobo apparently has an Award BIOS. One LONG beep from an
Award BIOS often indicates a memory error. I would start by re-seating
the RAM. If there is more than on stick of RAM try using just one, then
the other (in the first RAM slot).
If no improvement, try reseating the PCI cards and other items connected
to the motherboard (power connectors, etc).

It could be other things, but that's where to start.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Oct. 2002 - Sept. 2009
A+
http://dts-l.net/

On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:04:53 -0500, "glee" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>"Antares 531" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that
>> I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and
>> have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all
>> checked out and settled in.
>>
>> Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one
>> second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The
>> drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of
>> lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it
>> goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of
>> the computer flash a few times, then everything stops.
>>
>> I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and
>> also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither
>> boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light flashes
>> a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP.
>>
>> Any ideas as to what I might try next?
>
>That model mobo apparently has an Award BIOS. One LONG beep from an
>Award BIOS often indicates a memory error. I would start by re-seating
>the RAM. If there is more than on stick of RAM try using just one, then
>the other (in the first RAM slot).
>If no improvement, try reseating the PCI cards and other items connected
>to the motherboard (power connectors, etc).
>
>It could be other things, but that's where to start.
>
Thanks, Glee, I followed your suggestion but didn't get any favorable
results.

I powered down, pulled the power cord then removed the RAM stick out
of the DDRII 2 slot then booted and still got the beep.

I then powered down pulled the power cord and removed the RAM stick
from the DDRII 1 slot and replaced it with the one I had removed from
the other slot. Still beeped at me.

I powered down again, pulled the power cord, then put the second RAM
stick into the DDRII 2 slot. This had the two RAM sticks switched
around from their original positions. Still got the beep.

Something I noticed...the CPU cooling fan seems to be erratic. That is
it will start running as soon as I click the switch to boot up, but it
stops then jiggles intermittently when the beep sound occurs. After
the beep sound, this fan starts running normally without further
interruption. Could this mean that the CPU has failed?

Gordon

"Antares 531" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:04:53 -0500, "glee" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
>>"Antares 531" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that
>>> I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and
>>> have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all
>>> checked out and settled in.
>>>
>>> Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one
>>> second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The
>>> drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of
>>> lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it
>>> goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of
>>> the computer flash a few times, then everything stops.
>>>
>>> I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and
>>> also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither
>>> boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light
>>> flashes
>>> a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP.
>>>
>>> Any ideas as to what I might try next?
>>
>>That model mobo apparently has an Award BIOS. One LONG beep from an
>>Award BIOS often indicates a memory error. I would start by
>>re-seating
>>the RAM. If there is more than on stick of RAM try using just one,
>>then
>>the other (in the first RAM slot).
>>If no improvement, try reseating the PCI cards and other items
>>connected
>>to the motherboard (power connectors, etc).
>>
>>It could be other things, but that's where to start.
>>
> Thanks, Glee, I followed your suggestion but didn't get any favorable
> results.
>
> I powered down, pulled the power cord then removed the RAM stick out
> of the DDRII 2 slot then booted and still got the beep.
>
> I then powered down pulled the power cord and removed the RAM stick
> from the DDRII 1 slot and replaced it with the one I had removed from
> the other slot. Still beeped at me.
>
> I powered down again, pulled the power cord, then put the second RAM
> stick into the DDRII 2 slot. This had the two RAM sticks switched
> around from their original positions. Still got the beep.
>
> Something I noticed...the CPU cooling fan seems to be erratic. That is
> it will start running as soon as I click the switch to boot up, but it
> stops then jiggles intermittently when the beep sound occurs. After
> the beep sound, this fan starts running normally without further
> interruption. Could this mean that the CPU has failed?

It's hard to say, Gordon....it could be the power supply, or the mobo or
the CPU too.

Have you removed all the peripherals and cards except video, re-seated
absolutely everything, and tried again?

Try with the optical drives disconnected and only the hard drive
connected (and floppy drive if you have one).
Try with only the floppy drives connected if one is installed.
Try with NO drives connected.

A single long beep *usually* does not indicate a display problem.
This is a long beep, not the short beep one often hears during a normal
start-up, yes?

It's a slow process of re-seating, and disconnecting/reconnecting
everything to see if you get different behaviour...namely, if you can
get anything on the screen.

Does this have integrated video, or a separate video card?

If I had to make a total guess, I'd bet on a power supply problem. Do
you have a simple power supply tester, or a spare PSU you can try?

ATX PSU Tester
http://www.buy.com/prod/startech-com...202973591.html
and
http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-PSUTE.../dp/B000HVFBX8

--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Oct. 2002 - Sept. 2009
A+
http://dts-l.net/

On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:15:36 -0500, "glee" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>
>"Antares 531" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:04:53 -0500, "glee" <(E-Mail Removed)>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>"Antares 531" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that
>>>> I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and
>>>> have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all
>>>> checked out and settled in.
>>>>
>>>> Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one
>>>> second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The
>>>> drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of
>>>> lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it
>>>> goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of
>>>> the computer flash a few times, then everything stops.
>>>>
>>>> I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and
>>>> also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither
>>>> boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light
>>>> flashes
>>>> a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP.
>>>>
>>>> Any ideas as to what I might try next?
>>>
>>>That model mobo apparently has an Award BIOS. One LONG beep from an
>>>Award BIOS often indicates a memory error. I would start by
>>>re-seating
>>>the RAM. If there is more than on stick of RAM try using just one,
>>>then
>>>the other (in the first RAM slot).
>>>If no improvement, try reseating the PCI cards and other items
>>>connected
>>>to the motherboard (power connectors, etc).
>>>
>>>It could be other things, but that's where to start.
>>>
>> Thanks, Glee, I followed your suggestion but didn't get any favorable
>> results.
>>
>> I powered down, pulled the power cord then removed the RAM stick out
>> of the DDRII 2 slot then booted and still got the beep.
>>
>> I then powered down pulled the power cord and removed the RAM stick
>> from the DDRII 1 slot and replaced it with the one I had removed from
>> the other slot. Still beeped at me.
>>
>> I powered down again, pulled the power cord, then put the second RAM
>> stick into the DDRII 2 slot. This had the two RAM sticks switched
>> around from their original positions. Still got the beep.
>>
>> Something I noticed...the CPU cooling fan seems to be erratic. That is
>> it will start running as soon as I click the switch to boot up, but it
>> stops then jiggles intermittently when the beep sound occurs. After
>> the beep sound, this fan starts running normally without further
>> interruption. Could this mean that the CPU has failed?
>
>It's hard to say, Gordon....it could be the power supply, or the mobo or
>the CPU too.
>
>Have you removed all the peripherals and cards except video, re-seated
>absolutely everything, and tried again?
>
>Try with the optical drives disconnected and only the hard drive
>connected (and floppy drive if you have one).
>Try with only the floppy drives connected if one is installed.
>Try with NO drives connected.
>
>A single long beep *usually* does not indicate a display problem.
>This is a long beep, not the short beep one often hears during a normal
>start-up, yes?
>
>It's a slow process of re-seating, and disconnecting/reconnecting
>everything to see if you get different behaviour...namely, if you can
>get anything on the screen.
>
>Does this have integrated video, or a separate video card?
>
>If I had to make a total guess, I'd bet on a power supply problem. Do
>you have a simple power supply tester, or a spare PSU you can try?
>
>ATX PSU Tester
>http://www.buy.com/prod/startech-com...202973591.html
>and
>http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-PSUTE.../dp/B000HVFBX8
>
I've gone through the process of removing and re-installing all the
add-in cards and interconnection cables. This didn't produce any
noticeable changes other than the CPU fan now runs in short bursts of
about 2 or 3 seconds whereas it was just jiggling like it was starting
to run but never actually rotated the fan.

To answer another question...I do have an nVidia e-GeForce 7600 GS
graphics card installed. This is a 512 MB PCI-E video card. I'm not
using the motherboard's graphics output.

I've not yet tested the power supply (PC Power & Cooling Silencer 470
ATX 12V, Ver 2.2), but it seems to be working okay in that all the
drive activity lights blink on and I can hear the drives spin up and
the read/write arms move.

I'm wondering if maybe the BIOS memory chip or battery has gone bad. I
built this computer in October, 2007. It shouldn't be near the point
of battery failure, I wouldn't think. Also, even if the BIOS battery
is dead, wouldn't the boot CD still work? Should I buy a fresh battery
and do a change-out?

Gordon

Antares 531 wrote:
> On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:15:36 -0500, "glee" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
>> "Antares 531" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:04:53 -0500, "glee" <(E-Mail Removed)>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> "Antares 531" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>> I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that
>>>>> I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and
>>>>> have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all
>>>>> checked out and settled in.
>>>>>
>>>>> Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one
>>>>> second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The
>>>>> drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of
>>>>> lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it
>>>>> goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of
>>>>> the computer flash a few times, then everything stops.
>>>>>
>>>>> I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and
>>>>> also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither
>>>>> boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light
>>>>> flashes
>>>>> a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP.
>>>>>
>>>>> Any ideas as to what I might try next?
>>>> That model mobo apparently has an Award BIOS. One LONG beep from an
>>>> Award BIOS often indicates a memory error. I would start by
>>>> re-seating
>>>> the RAM. If there is more than on stick of RAM try using just one,
>>>> then
>>>> the other (in the first RAM slot).
>>>> If no improvement, try reseating the PCI cards and other items
>>>> connected
>>>> to the motherboard (power connectors, etc).
>>>>
>>>> It could be other things, but that's where to start.
>>>>
>>> Thanks, Glee, I followed your suggestion but didn't get any favorable
>>> results.
>>>
>>> I powered down, pulled the power cord then removed the RAM stick out
>>> of the DDRII 2 slot then booted and still got the beep.
>>>
>>> I then powered down pulled the power cord and removed the RAM stick
>>> from the DDRII 1 slot and replaced it with the one I had removed from
>>> the other slot. Still beeped at me.
>>>
>>> I powered down again, pulled the power cord, then put the second RAM
>>> stick into the DDRII 2 slot. This had the two RAM sticks switched
>>> around from their original positions. Still got the beep.
>>>
>>> Something I noticed...the CPU cooling fan seems to be erratic. That is
>>> it will start running as soon as I click the switch to boot up, but it
>>> stops then jiggles intermittently when the beep sound occurs. After
>>> the beep sound, this fan starts running normally without further
>>> interruption. Could this mean that the CPU has failed?
>> It's hard to say, Gordon....it could be the power supply, or the mobo or
>> the CPU too.
>>
>> Have you removed all the peripherals and cards except video, re-seated
>> absolutely everything, and tried again?
>>
>> Try with the optical drives disconnected and only the hard drive
>> connected (and floppy drive if you have one).
>> Try with only the floppy drives connected if one is installed.
>> Try with NO drives connected.
>>
>> A single long beep *usually* does not indicate a display problem.
>> This is a long beep, not the short beep one often hears during a normal
>> start-up, yes?
>>
>> It's a slow process of re-seating, and disconnecting/reconnecting
>> everything to see if you get different behaviour...namely, if you can
>> get anything on the screen.
>>
>> Does this have integrated video, or a separate video card?
>>
>> If I had to make a total guess, I'd bet on a power supply problem. Do
>> you have a simple power supply tester, or a spare PSU you can try?
>>
>> ATX PSU Tester
>> http://www.buy.com/prod/startech-com...202973591.html
>> and
>> http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-PSUTE.../dp/B000HVFBX8
>>
> I've gone through the process of removing and re-installing all the
> add-in cards and interconnection cables. This didn't produce any
> noticeable changes other than the CPU fan now runs in short bursts of
> about 2 or 3 seconds whereas it was just jiggling like it was starting
> to run but never actually rotated the fan.
>
> To answer another question...I do have an nVidia e-GeForce 7600 GS
> graphics card installed. This is a 512 MB PCI-E video card. I'm not
> using the motherboard's graphics output.
>
> I've not yet tested the power supply (PC Power & Cooling Silencer 470
> ATX 12V, Ver 2.2), but it seems to be working okay in that all the
> drive activity lights blink on and I can hear the drives spin up and
> the read/write arms move.
>
> I'm wondering if maybe the BIOS memory chip or battery has gone bad. I
> built this computer in October, 2007. It shouldn't be near the point
> of battery failure, I wouldn't think. Also, even if the BIOS battery
> is dead, wouldn't the boot CD still work? Should I buy a fresh battery
> and do a change-out?

Find the beep codes for your BIOS and your questions will be answered.
Glee says that the board has an Award BIOS so possible starting points:

http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=...p&fr=yfp-t-501
http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=...p&fr=yfp-t-501
http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=...p&fr=yfp-t-501

John

On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:22:46 -0400, John John - MVP
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>
>Antares 531 wrote:
>> On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:15:36 -0500, "glee" <(E-Mail Removed)>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> "Antares 531" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>> On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:04:53 -0500, "glee" <(E-Mail Removed)>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> "Antares 531" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>>> I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that
>>>>>> I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and
>>>>>> have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all
>>>>>> checked out and settled in.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one
>>>>>> second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The
>>>>>> drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of
>>>>>> lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it
>>>>>> goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of
>>>>>> the computer flash a few times, then everything stops.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and
>>>>>> also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither
>>>>>> boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light
>>>>>> flashes
>>>>>> a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Any ideas as to what I might try next?
>>>>> That model mobo apparently has an Award BIOS. One LONG beep from an
>>>>> Award BIOS often indicates a memory error. I would start by
>>>>> re-seating
>>>>> the RAM. If there is more than on stick of RAM try using just one,
>>>>> then
>>>>> the other (in the first RAM slot).
>>>>> If no improvement, try reseating the PCI cards and other items
>>>>> connected
>>>>> to the motherboard (power connectors, etc).
>>>>>
>>>>> It could be other things, but that's where to start.
>>>>>
>>>> Thanks, Glee, I followed your suggestion but didn't get any favorable
>>>> results.
>>>>
>>>> I powered down, pulled the power cord then removed the RAM stick out
>>>> of the DDRII 2 slot then booted and still got the beep.
>>>>
>>>> I then powered down pulled the power cord and removed the RAM stick
>>>> from the DDRII 1 slot and replaced it with the one I had removed from
>>>> the other slot. Still beeped at me.
>>>>
>>>> I powered down again, pulled the power cord, then put the second RAM
>>>> stick into the DDRII 2 slot. This had the two RAM sticks switched
>>>> around from their original positions. Still got the beep.
>>>>
>>>> Something I noticed...the CPU cooling fan seems to be erratic. That is
>>>> it will start running as soon as I click the switch to boot up, but it
>>>> stops then jiggles intermittently when the beep sound occurs. After
>>>> the beep sound, this fan starts running normally without further
>>>> interruption. Could this mean that the CPU has failed?
>>> It's hard to say, Gordon....it could be the power supply, or the mobo or
>>> the CPU too.
>>>
>>> Have you removed all the peripherals and cards except video, re-seated
>>> absolutely everything, and tried again?
>>>
>>> Try with the optical drives disconnected and only the hard drive
>>> connected (and floppy drive if you have one).
>>> Try with only the floppy drives connected if one is installed.
>>> Try with NO drives connected.
>>>
>>> A single long beep *usually* does not indicate a display problem.
>>> This is a long beep, not the short beep one often hears during a normal
>>> start-up, yes?
>>>
>>> It's a slow process of re-seating, and disconnecting/reconnecting
>>> everything to see if you get different behaviour...namely, if you can
>>> get anything on the screen.
>>>
>>> Does this have integrated video, or a separate video card?
>>>
>>> If I had to make a total guess, I'd bet on a power supply problem. Do
>>> you have a simple power supply tester, or a spare PSU you can try?
>>>
>>> ATX PSU Tester
>>> http://www.buy.com/prod/startech-com...202973591.html
>>> and
>>> http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-PSUTE.../dp/B000HVFBX8
>>>
>> I've gone through the process of removing and re-installing all the
>> add-in cards and interconnection cables. This didn't produce any
>> noticeable changes other than the CPU fan now runs in short bursts of
>> about 2 or 3 seconds whereas it was just jiggling like it was starting
>> to run but never actually rotated the fan.
>>
>> To answer another question...I do have an nVidia e-GeForce 7600 GS
>> graphics card installed. This is a 512 MB PCI-E video card. I'm not
>> using the motherboard's graphics output.
>>
>> I've not yet tested the power supply (PC Power & Cooling Silencer 470
>> ATX 12V, Ver 2.2), but it seems to be working okay in that all the
>> drive activity lights blink on and I can hear the drives spin up and
>> the read/write arms move.
>>
>> I'm wondering if maybe the BIOS memory chip or battery has gone bad. I
>> built this computer in October, 2007. It shouldn't be near the point
>> of battery failure, I wouldn't think. Also, even if the BIOS battery
>> is dead, wouldn't the boot CD still work? Should I buy a fresh battery
>> and do a change-out?
>
>Find the beep codes for your BIOS and your questions will be answered.
>Glee says that the board has an Award BIOS so possible starting points:
>
>http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=...p&fr=yfp-t-501
>http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=...p&fr=yfp-t-501
>http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=...p&fr=yfp-t-501
>
>John
>
Thanks, John. I checked these out but didn't find any information on
one long beep from a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard with an Award
BIOS.

I have always gotten a short beep (half second, approximately) on
booting and the above sites indicate that this is a "System Normal"
signal. But this beep is very brief.

The beep I'm now getting is a single beep that lasts about two seconds
then nothing more. It definitely isn't a series of long - short beeps.

This computer has been in service for more than two years, and has
always been very reliable and stable. I've done nothing in the way of
hardware modifications or new software, recently.

When booting, the drive indicator lights all flash and act like the
system is going through the normal boot process. I can hear the hard
drives running and the CD drive will accept a boot CD and act like it
is trying to read it for a while but never makes any progress with
this.

Even after the computer quits trying to complete the boot process, I
can still open the CD tray and put a CD in then close it, but it won't
show any signs of trying to read the CD after the boot process has
quit.

I plan to go tomorrow and buy a new BIOS CMOS battery, then replace
the old one. It is more than two years old, and may be exhausted.

Thanks for your support. I'll keep you posted on any new developments.

Gordon

Try the process of elimination if you don't know the beep codes. I.E. Remove
a memory module and try to boot.
Then remove another item and try to boot.
"Antares 531" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:22:46 -0400, John John - MVP
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>
>>Antares 531 wrote:
>>> On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:15:36 -0500, "glee" <(E-Mail Removed)>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> "Antares 531" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>> On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:04:53 -0500, "glee" <(E-Mail Removed)>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> "Antares 531" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>>>> I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard
>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>> I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and
>>>>>>> have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all
>>>>>>> checked out and settled in.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one
>>>>>>> second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The
>>>>>>> drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of
>>>>>>> lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it
>>>>>>> goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of
>>>>>>> the computer flash a few times, then everything stops.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and
>>>>>>> also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither
>>>>>>> boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light
>>>>>>> flashes
>>>>>>> a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Any ideas as to what I might try next?
>>>>>> That model mobo apparently has an Award BIOS. One LONG beep from an
>>>>>> Award BIOS often indicates a memory error. I would start by
>>>>>> re-seating
>>>>>> the RAM. If there is more than on stick of RAM try using just one,
>>>>>> then
>>>>>> the other (in the first RAM slot).
>>>>>> If no improvement, try reseating the PCI cards and other items
>>>>>> connected
>>>>>> to the motherboard (power connectors, etc).
>>>>>>
>>>>>> It could be other things, but that's where to start.
>>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks, Glee, I followed your suggestion but didn't get any favorable
>>>>> results.
>>>>>
>>>>> I powered down, pulled the power cord then removed the RAM stick out
>>>>> of the DDRII 2 slot then booted and still got the beep.
>>>>>
>>>>> I then powered down pulled the power cord and removed the RAM stick
>>>>> from the DDRII 1 slot and replaced it with the one I had removed from
>>>>> the other slot. Still beeped at me.
>>>>>
>>>>> I powered down again, pulled the power cord, then put the second RAM
>>>>> stick into the DDRII 2 slot. This had the two RAM sticks switched
>>>>> around from their original positions. Still got the beep.
>>>>>
>>>>> Something I noticed...the CPU cooling fan seems to be erratic. That is
>>>>> it will start running as soon as I click the switch to boot up, but it
>>>>> stops then jiggles intermittently when the beep sound occurs. After
>>>>> the beep sound, this fan starts running normally without further
>>>>> interruption. Could this mean that the CPU has failed?
>>>> It's hard to say, Gordon....it could be the power supply, or the mobo
>>>> or
>>>> the CPU too.
>>>>
>>>> Have you removed all the peripherals and cards except video, re-seated
>>>> absolutely everything, and tried again?
>>>>
>>>> Try with the optical drives disconnected and only the hard drive
>>>> connected (and floppy drive if you have one).
>>>> Try with only the floppy drives connected if one is installed.
>>>> Try with NO drives connected.
>>>>
>>>> A single long beep *usually* does not indicate a display problem.
>>>> This is a long beep, not the short beep one often hears during a normal
>>>> start-up, yes?
>>>>
>>>> It's a slow process of re-seating, and disconnecting/reconnecting
>>>> everything to see if you get different behaviour...namely, if you can
>>>> get anything on the screen.
>>>>
>>>> Does this have integrated video, or a separate video card?
>>>>
>>>> If I had to make a total guess, I'd bet on a power supply problem. Do
>>>> you have a simple power supply tester, or a spare PSU you can try?
>>>>
>>>> ATX PSU Tester
>>>> http://www.buy.com/prod/startech-com...202973591.html
>>>> and
>>>> http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-PSUTE.../dp/B000HVFBX8
>>>>
>>> I've gone through the process of removing and re-installing all the
>>> add-in cards and interconnection cables. This didn't produce any
>>> noticeable changes other than the CPU fan now runs in short bursts of
>>> about 2 or 3 seconds whereas it was just jiggling like it was starting
>>> to run but never actually rotated the fan.
>>>
>>> To answer another question...I do have an nVidia e-GeForce 7600 GS
>>> graphics card installed. This is a 512 MB PCI-E video card. I'm not
>>> using the motherboard's graphics output.
>>>
>>> I've not yet tested the power supply (PC Power & Cooling Silencer 470
>>> ATX 12V, Ver 2.2), but it seems to be working okay in that all the
>>> drive activity lights blink on and I can hear the drives spin up and
>>> the read/write arms move.
>>>
>>> I'm wondering if maybe the BIOS memory chip or battery has gone bad. I
>>> built this computer in October, 2007. It shouldn't be near the point
>>> of battery failure, I wouldn't think. Also, even if the BIOS battery
>>> is dead, wouldn't the boot CD still work? Should I buy a fresh battery
>>> and do a change-out?
>>
>>Find the beep codes for your BIOS and your questions will be answered.
>>Glee says that the board has an Award BIOS so possible starting points:
>>
>>http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=...p&fr=yfp-t-501
>>http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=...p&fr=yfp-t-501
>>http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=...p&fr=yfp-t-501
>>
>>John
>>
> Thanks, John. I checked these out but didn't find any information on
> one long beep from a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard with an Award
> BIOS.
>
> I have always gotten a short beep (half second, approximately) on
> booting and the above sites indicate that this is a "System Normal"
> signal. But this beep is very brief.
>
> The beep I'm now getting is a single beep that lasts about two seconds
> then nothing more. It definitely isn't a series of long - short beeps.
>
> This computer has been in service for more than two years, and has
> always been very reliable and stable. I've done nothing in the way of
> hardware modifications or new software, recently.
>
> When booting, the drive indicator lights all flash and act like the
> system is going through the normal boot process. I can hear the hard
> drives running and the CD drive will accept a boot CD and act like it
> is trying to read it for a while but never makes any progress with
> this.
>
> Even after the computer quits trying to complete the boot process, I
> can still open the CD tray and put a CD in then close it, but it won't
> show any signs of trying to read the CD after the boot process has
> quit.
>
> I plan to go tomorrow and buy a new BIOS CMOS battery, then replace
> the old one. It is more than two years old, and may be exhausted.
>
> Thanks for your support. I'll keep you posted on any new developments.
>
> Gordon