3 Beeps and computer won't turn on?

[Tony]

I re-installed Xp on a new hard drive about a month ago. Just last
nite while surfing the net. The screen on my monitor went screwy. And
shut off. I then hear 3 beeps about a second apart. Is this a
operating system issue? I have an e-machines computer I bought 2 years
ago. At first I thought it maybe a hardware issue. So I opened up the
case. Reseated the memory, disconnected everything and spray dusted
everything I could. But nothing has fixed the problem. Any thoughts
and directions are appreciated.

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

At first I thought it maybe a hardware issue.

It is a hardware issue. Check your manual to find out what the three
beeps mean. Something has died.

 

[Godfrey Wilkes]

I re-installed Xp on a new hard drive about a month ago. Just last
nite while surfing the net. The screen on my monitor went screwy. And
shut off. I then hear 3 beeps about a second apart. Is this a
operating system issue? I have an e-machines computer I bought 2 years
ago. At first I thought it maybe a hardware issue. So I opened up the
case. Reseated the memory, disconnected everything and spray dusted
everything I could. But nothing has fixed the problem. Any thoughts
and directions are appreciated.

Bad RAM or video hardware failure.

 

[M.I.5¾]

I re-installed Xp on a new hard drive about a month ago. Just last
nite while surfing the net. The screen on my monitor went screwy. And
shut off. I then hear 3 beeps about a second apart. Is this a
operating system issue? I have an e-machines computer I bought 2 years
ago. At first I thought it maybe a hardware issue. So I opened up the
case. Reseated the memory, disconnected everything and spray dusted
everything I could. But nothing has fixed the problem. Any thoughts
and directions are appreciated.

The video card has either come out of its socket or has failed completely.

Carefully reseat the video card (while the PC is off) and try again. Many
motherboards actually lock an AGP type video card in position (and just as
many don't), so you may need to check the locking.

 

[Tony]

Bad RAM or video hardware failure.

After doing a little research. I found out I have the AMI Bios. And
that it is likely to be a base 64k error. Anyone know what this means?
And how I can fix this?

 

[dobey]

After doing a little research. I found out I have the AMI Bios. And
that it is likely to be a base 64k error. Anyone know what this means?
And how I can fix this?

Do some more research on BIOS beep codes, as they may differ slightly.

Usually a combination of long and shore beeps.

One short beep means everyting is fine.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I re-installed Xp on a new hard drive about a month ago. Just last
nite while surfing the net. The screen on my monitor went screwy. And
shut off. I then hear 3 beeps about a second apart. Is this a
operating system issue?

No, it a purely hardware problem. The beeps are a code telling you
that something (consult your manual to determine precisely what) has
failed the motherboard's Power-On Self Test (POST).

I have an e-machines computer I bought 2 years
ago. At first I thought it maybe a hardware issue.

That exactly what is is.

So I opened up the
case. Reseated the memory, disconnected everything and spray dusted
everything I could. But nothing has fixed the problem. Any thoughts
and directions are appreciated.

It takes more than "reseating" to replace a defective component.


--

Bruce Chambers

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[bdog]

Here is a web site with the different beep codes.

http://www.amptron.com/html/bios.beepcodes.html

bdog

 

[Plato]

I re-installed Xp on a new hard drive about a month ago. Just last
nite while surfing the net. The screen on my monitor went screwy. And
shut off. I then hear 3 beeps about a second apart. Is this a
operating system issue? I have an e-machines computer I bought 2 years
ago. At first I thought it maybe a hardware issue. So I opened up the
case. Reseated the memory, disconnected everything and spray dusted
everything I could. But nothing has fixed the problem. Any thoughts
and directions are appreciated.

Are your temps OK?