Ram going bad

[Guest]

Using 4yearold VPR Matix computer with WinXP Home. Last Oct. after shutting
down properly, the next day, machine would only give me 3 beeps and not boot
up. Switching the two 256 Ram chips, I discovered the one in the primary slot
had gone bad. Ran fine, although with less Ram for about two weeks and second
Ram went bad. Stuff happens, so bought new 512 Ram stick and enjoyed until
mid Dec when Windows would not load because of missing or corrupt files.
Machine came with restore disk, which would wipe hard drive, so borrowed XP
set up disk and ran the "r" function. Fixed me right up but after three days
and turning off properly, machine only gives me the three beeps again and
will not boot up. Before I continue to buy new Ram, what could be causing
this?

 

[no one]

Using 4yearold VPR Matix computer with WinXP Home. Last Oct. after shutting
down properly, the next day, machine would only give me 3 beeps and not boot
up. Switching the two 256 Ram chips, I discovered the one in the primary slot
had gone bad. Ran fine, although with less Ram for about two weeks and second
Ram went bad. Stuff happens, so bought new 512 Ram stick and enjoyed until
mid Dec when Windows would not load because of missing or corrupt files.
Machine came with restore disk, which would wipe hard drive, so borrowed XP
set up disk and ran the "r" function. Fixed me right up but after three days
and turning off properly, machine only gives me the three beeps again and
will not boot up. Before I continue to buy new Ram, what could be causing
this?

Hard drive failure ( Check your hd with the disk utility from the HD
manufactures Website )

power supply Weak

 

[Unk]

Using 4yearold VPR Matix computer with WinXP Home. Last Oct. after shutting
down properly, the next day, machine would only give me 3 beeps and not boot
up. Switching the two 256 Ram chips, I discovered the one in the primary slot
had gone bad. Ran fine, although with less Ram for about two weeks and second
Ram went bad. Stuff happens, so bought new 512 Ram stick and enjoyed until
mid Dec when Windows would not load because of missing or corrupt files.
Machine came with restore disk, which would wipe hard drive, so borrowed XP
set up disk and ran the "r" function. Fixed me right up but after three days
and turning off properly, machine only gives me the three beeps again and
will not boot up. Before I continue to buy new Ram, what could be causing
this?

3 beeps = Base 64K RAM failure (That's on the MB)

http://www.techadvice.com/tech/B/BeepCode.htm
http://www.pchell.com/hardware/beepcodes.shtml
http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/sys/beep/
http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm#04
http://www.ami.com/support/doc/AMIBIOS-codes.pdf
http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/sys/beep/award.htm
http://www.webenet.net/~ntuser/phoenixbeep.htm
http://www.sysopt.com/biosbmc.html
http://www.5starsupport.com/info/beep_codes.htm
By BIOS type: http://www.bioscentral.com

Beep Codes

BEEP CODE Meaning

1 DRAM refresh failure
2 Parity Circut failure
3 Base 64K RAM failure
4 System Timer failure
5 Processor failure
6 Keyboard Controller / Gate A20 error
7 Virtual Mode Exception error
8 Display Memory R/W Test failure
9 ROM-BIOS Checksum failure
10 CMOS shutdown register read/write error
11 Cache memory error

Continuous Beeping: Memory or video problem

 

[Guest]

Hi Mike ,

You can test your RAMM with the following tool :
http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

This tool will require a boot disk , either floppy or CD.
If your memory passes the test , there might be other hardware at fault ,
I'd check for the usual suspects , dust , voltage problems etc. ( I quote "no
one" for the power supply suggestion. )

I don't know of any apps that can help you stress test the RAMM bus itself ,
but a full hardware diagnostic might not be a bad idea... the pain of
constantly replacing hardware is motivation enough I think.

 

[Guest]

Thanks no one,
computer was blown out last Oct when Ram first failed but I see lots of
dust around power supply cables, which had been cleaned. Guess I might better
get new power supply.

 

[Guest]

Thanks UNK,
All the links give me plenty to study. Question, if the beeps, which I
consider to be three long ones and there is no such signal, indicate base 64k
failure, that you tell me is on the mother board. How was this fixed with new
Ram stick? And I suppose, would that mean my old chips are really still good?
Also, would this be cheaply repairable or would I need to buy new MB?

 

[Guest]

Thanks Savage,
I created the dianostic floppy on this old Pent2 machine. How can I run it
on the Pent4 machine, that beeps at the very moment I hit the on button? I
guess this message shows I'm not very computer savvy but not afraid to get in
there and learn.

 

[DanS]

Thanks UNK,
All the links give me plenty to study. Question, if the beeps, which
I
consider to be three long ones and there is no such signal, indicate
base 64k failure, that you tell me is on the mother board. How was
this fixed with new Ram stick? And I suppose, would that mean my old
chips are really still good? Also, would this be cheaply repairable or
would I need to buy new MB?

A motherboard can be had for pretty cheap also.

 

[Guest]

Thanks DanS,
That's what I was getting around to. I can get help replacing MB but if
repair shop can fix that base 64K memory cheaply, I'd rather go that route.
Maybe I should pay for a shop's dianostic and price to repair and go from
there. I just hate throwing parts at anything hopeing it repairs the problem.
At this point, I'm going to see if Best Buy will exchange the new Ram and
check their price on Power Supply. Should be around $25, give or take. If
that doesn't look like it will happen, I think my best bet is to get it
tested and know for sure.

 

[David Candy]

Beep codes are different for each computer. Unless he looked up your computer's beep code it only means that on his.

 

[Guest]

after buying so much ram, i would have just bought another
motherboard/proccesor combo

 

[Malke]

Thanks Savage,
I created the dianostic floppy on this old Pent2 machine. How can I
run it
on the Pent4 machine, that beeps at the very moment I hit the on
button? I guess this message shows I'm not very computer savvy but not
afraid to get in there and learn.

If the motherboard beeps when you even turn the computer on, either your
new RAM is bad or - my guess - your motherboard is going.

Test the RAM you've got in another compatible machine. I use Memtest,
but the Windows one will work, too. If you don't have another
compatible machine for testing, take the machine and/or the RAM to a
local professional and have them do the diagnosis for you.

Malke

 

[Alan]

Thanks no one,
computer was blown out last Oct when Ram first failed but I see lots of
dust around power supply cables, which had been cleaned. Guess I might
better
get new power supply.

Take the covers off and run it to see if it is overheating.

 

[Guest]

Thanks David,
I'm hopeful the beeps were about the Ram gone bad because that fixed it
before. I just hope it isn't the mother board. Dusty power supply seems like
the reason. It was cleaned before but very dusty again and quickly.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Malke,
My plan is to try and see if Best Buy will exchange Ram purchase on 19 Oct
05. If that lets it boot up. I'll not use it until I can replace power
supply. If all else fails, I'll take it to a shop for testing.

 

[David Candy]

I'd read my manual and see what it is.

 

[Guest]

Thanks John,
The machine came with two sticks of Ram, which failed about a week apart.
I've only bought new Ram once for about $50 but now it seems like it has gone
bad. If I can't exchange that, I guess it's off to the shop for testing. If
they will exchange Ram and the machine will boot uo, then at the least, I
think a new power supply is a good plan.