Computer beeps 3 times

[Joe K]

I have a computer with a new harddrive.I want to install XP on it.The
computer didn't have a harddrive. I plugged it in correctly and put in XP cd
but computer beeps 3 times and nothing.
I know this is a hardware problem. But can anyone direct me.

 

[Ken Blake]

In

I have a computer with a new harddrive.I want to install XP on
it.The
computer didn't have a harddrive. I plugged it in correctly and
put
in XP cd but computer beeps 3 times and nothing.
I know this is a hardware problem. But can anyone direct me.

Did you set the BIOS to boot from the CD first? If not, that's
what you have to do.

 

[Richard Urban]

I can direct you to your computer manual or better yet, your M/B manual.
Look for bios beep codes there. Also try the manufacturers web site for the
same.

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

Quote from: George Ankner
"If you knew as much as you thought you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!"

 

[CWatters]

I have a computer with a new harddrive.I want to install XP on it.The
computer didn't have a harddrive. I plugged it in correctly and put in XP cd
but computer beeps 3 times and nothing.
I know this is a hardware problem. But can anyone direct me.

Can you boot into the BIOS? If so do that and check the CD drive is first
in the boot sequence. Then try again.

If you can't get into the BIOS get a copy of the motherboard manual and see
if three beeps is listed in the section on BIOS error messages. Many
motherboards use beeps to indicate faults like overheating or memory failure
or ??

 

[Vanguard]

I have a computer with a new harddrive.I want to install XP on it.The
computer didn't have a harddrive. I plugged it in correctly and put in
XP cd but computer beeps 3 times and nothing.
I know this is a hardware problem. But can anyone direct me.

Since you did not bother to provide details, like your motherboard
vendor and model and the BIOS brand and version that it displays when
booting up, you'll have to do your own research at www.bioscentral.com
regarding the beep codes.

 

[Malke]

I have a computer with a new harddrive.I want to install XP on it.The
computer didn't have a harddrive. I plugged it in correctly and put in
XP cd but computer beeps 3 times and nothing.
I know this is a hardware problem. But can anyone direct me.

The beeps are audible warnings from your motherboard. The exact meaning
depends on what motherboard you have. Since you had the computer open
to install the new drive, open the case again. Reseat everything - you
might have dislodged something. I would start by reseating the memory
and the video card. Make sure you properly jumpered the hard drive and
that its cable is securely fastened to the motherboard and to the
drive.

Malke

 

[Jimbo]

Why did it not have a harddrive...?

Does your computer boot up at all....?

 

[Joe K]

I have a computer with a new harddrive.I want to install XP on it.The
computer didn't have a harddrive. I plugged it in correctly and put in XP cd
but computer beeps 3 times and nothing.
I know this is a hardware problem. But can anyone direct me.

I am finally getting back to this computer.I have a life,not much of one.
I did a recheck of computer.The RAM was dislodged.I replaced and started
and no more beeps.
The computer is a Gateway select 1200,1.2GHz.It was a WinME.It has no
hard drive. I am installing a 120G HD.Sorry for not including this info
before.
I got a Win ME bootdisk from http://radified.com/Files/. The fdisk is
suppose to read large HD.I booted ok from floppy.
I am in fdisk now. I selected option {1} and No for using maximum space
but it only states 11724Mbytes.This is not saying it's a 120G,right?

The math is 11724 x 1048576[1Mbyte] = 12,293,505,024. Correct?

So before I continue I need advice.I will get back in later this
afternoon. Thanks in advance for help.

 

[Joe K]

I have a computer with a new harddrive.I want to install XP on it.The
computer didn't have a harddrive. I plugged it in correctly and put in
XP cd but computer beeps 3 times and nothing.
I know this is a hardware problem. But can anyone direct me.

I am finally getting back to this computer.I have a life,not much of one.
I did a recheck of computer.The RAM was dislodged.I replaced and started
and no more beeps.
The computer is a Gateway select 1200,1.2GHz.It was a WinME.It has no
hard drive. I am installing a 120G HD.Sorry for not including this info
before.
I got a Win ME bootdisk from http://radified.com/Files/. The fdisk is
suppose to read large HD.I booted ok from floppy.
I am in fdisk now. I selected option {1} and No for using maximum space
but it only states 11724Mbytes.This is not saying it's a 120G,right?

The math is 11724 x 1048576[1Mbyte] = 12,293,505,024. Correct?

So before I continue I need advice.I will get back in later this
afternoon. Thanks in advance for help.

To ADD I cannot boot from cd with HD disk or XP Install disk.I set bios
to boot from cd,floppy and HD in that order.

 

[CWatters]

but it only states 11724Mbytes.This is not saying it's a 120G,right?

The math is 11724 x 1048576[1Mbyte] = 12,293,505,024. Correct?

Yes about 10% of what it should be saying.

Is this an old motherboard?
Over the years there have been various size limits on drives due to BIOS and
other limits. I can't recall one at 11G. Try here..
http://www.dewassoc.com/kbase/hard_drives/hard_drive_size_barriers.htm

 

[NobodyMan]

I have a computer with a new harddrive.I want to install XP on it.The
computer didn't have a harddrive. I plugged it in correctly and put in
XP cd but computer beeps 3 times and nothing.
I know this is a hardware problem. But can anyone direct me.

I am finally getting back to this computer.I have a life,not much of one.
I did a recheck of computer.The RAM was dislodged.I replaced and started
and no more beeps.
The computer is a Gateway select 1200,1.2GHz.It was a WinME.It has no
hard drive. I am installing a 120G HD.Sorry for not including this info
before.
I got a Win ME bootdisk from http://radified.com/Files/. The fdisk is
suppose to read large HD.I booted ok from floppy.
I am in fdisk now. I selected option {1} and No for using maximum space
but it only states 11724Mbytes.This is not saying it's a 120G,right?

The math is 11724 x 1048576[1Mbyte] = 12,293,505,024. Correct?

So before I continue I need advice.I will get back in later this
afternoon. Thanks in advance for help.

To ADD I cannot boot from cd with HD disk or XP Install disk.I set bios
to boot from cd,floppy and HD in that order.

Are you just sitting there on Boot and expecting the CD to be booted
from with no interaction from you?

Almost all BIOSs out there I've worked with require you to hit a key,
when prompted, to boot from CD. If you don't (and the message can go
bye pretty quick) it moves on down the boot sequence.

 

[Joe K]

but it only states 11724Mbytes.This is not saying it's a 120G,right?

The math is 11724 x 1048576[1Mbyte] = 12,293,505,024. Correct?

Yes about 10% of what it should be saying.

Is this an old motherboard?
Over the years there have been various size limits on drives due to BIOS and
other limits. I can't recall one at 11G. Try here..
http://www.dewassoc.com/kbase/hard_drives/hard_drive_size_barriers.htm

The Motherboard is
Form Factor ATX (12.0×9.6 inches)
# Processor Support for an AMD® Athlon® processor
# 266 megahertz (MHz) system data bus using double data rate (DDR)
technology
# Memory Two DIMM slots supporting four banks
# Support for up to 1 gigabyte (GB) of memory using PC133 DIMMs
Chipset VIA KM133 chipset consisting of:

* VT8365 North Bridge
* VT82C686B South Bridge

I believe it's a bios problem. But I can't figure it out nor take any
more time with this now.
Thanks for info on HD sizes.

 

[Joe K]

but it only states 11724Mbytes.This is not saying it's a 120G,right?

The math is 11724 x 1048576[1Mbyte] = 12,293,505,024. Correct?

Yes about 10% of what it should be saying.

Is this an old motherboard?
Over the years there have been various size limits on drives due to BIOS and
other limits. I can't recall one at 11G. Try here..
http://www.dewassoc.com/kbase/hard_drives/hard_drive_size_barriers.htm

And the bios info is
# BIOS AMI BIOS
# Support for Advanced Power Management (APM), Advanced Configuration
and Power Interface (ACPI), and Plug and Play

Thanks again.

 

[Ed]

And the bios info is
# BIOS AMI BIOS

3 beeps indicate a "Base 64K memory failure"

Beep codes for AMI are at:
http://bioscentral.com/beepcodes/amibeep.htm

Regards,
Ed

 

[Joe K]

I have a computer with a new harddrive.I want to install XP on it.The
computer didn't have a harddrive. I plugged it in correctly and put in XP cd
but computer beeps 3 times and nothing.
I know this is a hardware problem. But can anyone direct me.

Thanks to everyone for there help.On to the next project.

 

[Kelly]

Hi Joe,

Have it figured out? What worked in your case?

Added info for the next time:

Here's the beep definitions by BIOS: Standard Error Codes:
http://www.pchell.com/hardware/beepcodes.shtml

BIOS Commands
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_b.htm#xp_bios

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com