How do I trouble shoot my hardware

Question

When I turn my computer on, the monitor will not turn on, and the computer will give me a beeping sounds... a consistent beeping sound, and the power button flashes instead of turning on. What could be my problem, and do I need to replace something? I've read that I may need to replace my video card, but if I cannot turn on my computer, then what other options do I have? Also, how do I reset the mother board if that is the problem?

Answer

This question was answered on March 7, 2005. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

O.K. if you have an XP computer chances are it’s pretty new. And it may be under warranty. If not then you’ll still have to take it to a repair shop. The thing is that the beeps you hear are how the computer communicates when there is something very wrong with it.

If you’re lucky something simply got loose. Sometimes removing components and replugging them fix it.

If you want to try to fix it yourself then this is what you do.

Every computer is different go to the manufacturer web site and try to find the beep codes for your bios. When you find the one that matches what your computer is beeping that is what is wrong. It can be anything that’s physically attached to the computer even the RAMM. It may very well be your video card. It took me a few days when I had a similar problem once it was a network card that had gotten loose some how. And that prevented the computer from starting properly.

Author

Posted by Wilmer of Katharine Gibbs School - New York on March 7, 2005