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Computer on startup

Posted By : Christopher of Katharine Gibbs School - New York on November 23, 2004

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I have a question my daughters computer on startup is not even posting sometimes. She has a home built PC with a Gigabyte GA-7VT600 motherboard, 512 DDR RAM, 60 gig HD, Gigabyte video card, Award BIOS, 400 power supply. When you turn it on you get a contant short beeps that never stop and no video. I turn it off and on a few times then usually it will boot up not always. Once windows XP is loaded I see no problems but when you insert a CD into the computer it will either lock up or reboot?????? It does this all the time even on normal boot ups. Does this sound like a RAM issue, not sure maybe when I insert a CD it can't handle the extra load and shuts the computer down I'm at a loss. The fan on the CPU is running along with the case fan no problems there. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks...John

This question was answered on November 23, 2004. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.


Each time the computer boots up the computer must past the POST The following is the procedure of the POST:

1 The first step of POST is the testing of the Power Supply to ensure that it is turned on and that it releases its reset signal

2 CPU must exit the reset status mode and thereafter be able to execute instructions

3 BIOS must be have readable

4 BIOS checksum must be valid, meaning that it must be readable

5 CMOS be accessible for reading

6 CMOS checksum must be valid, meaning that it must be readable

7 CPU must be able to read all forms of memory such as the memory controller, memory bus, and memory module

8 The first 64KB of memory must be operational and have the capability to be read and written to and from, and capable of containing the POST code

9 I/O bus / controller must be accessible

10 I/O bus must be able to write / read from the video subsystem and be able to read all video RAM.

The following are AMI BIOS Beep Codes that can occur However because of the wide variety of different computer manufacturers with this BIOS the beep codes may vary.

Beep Code Descriptions

1 short DRAM refresh failure

2 short Parity circuit failure

3 short Base 64K RAM failure

4 short System timer failure

5 short Process failure

6 short Keyboard controller Gate A20 error

7 short Virtual mode exception error

8 short Display memory Read/Write test failure

9 short ROM BIOS checksum failure

10 short CMOS shutdown Read/Write error

11 short Cache Memory error

1 long, 3 short Conventional/Extended memory failure

1 long, 8 short Display/Retrace test failed

Follow this link.. Maybe it will help

http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm

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Posted by Christopher of Katharine Gibbs School - New York on November 23, 2004

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