PC Tech Thread

Not sure how pertinent the information on here is really, that mainboard section doesn't seem to give much away

my point was that he's unlikely to have a spare knocking about.

We don't know what the problem is yet..

Try this:

http://www.pchell.com/hardware/beepcodes.shtml#Phoenix_BIOS_Beep_Codes

The beeps are motherboard specific. I'm sure hippy's not suggesting swapping out all of the parts to identify the bad one.

This.

Find the manual for the laptop in question and it will tell you what part of the system is indicated by the type of beeps. I thought it was a desktop PC which is why I mentioned mobo but it doesn't matter. Same principle for laptops.

Not sure how pertinent the information on here is really, that mainboard section doesn't seem to give much away

It's an Acer laptop. Got a model written on the case?

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=acer+makalu&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a#hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=zmp&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB%3Aofficial&sclient=psy-ab&q=acer+laptop+beep+codes&oq=acer+laptop+beep+codes&gs_l=serp.3..0j0i7i30l2j0i8i30.3529.4227.3.4342.7.7.0.0.0.2.140.692.3j4.7.0.les%3B..0.0...1c.1.4t894TvFJIU&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=ff301ef4d48490c5&biw=1440&bih=770

Le google suggests that it's a Phoenix BIOS

Acer beep codes:

http://www.support.acer.com/acerpanam/Manuals/acer/2010/ServiceGuides/SG_Aspire_M3910_Book_03272010.pdf

Beep Codes
Beep codes are used by the BIOS to indicate a serious or fatal error to the end user. Beep codes are used
when an error occurs before the system video has been initialized. Beep codes will be generated by the
system board speaker, commonly referred to as the PC speaker.
AMIBIOS displays the checkpoints in the bottom right corner of the screen during POST. This display method
is limited, since it only displays checkpoints that occur after the video card has been activated.
Not all computers using AMIBIOS enable this feature. In most cases, a checkpoint card is the best tool for
viewing AMIBIOS checkpoints.
Beep Symptom Cause and Description
One short beep System is ready.
System is OK.
Continuous one long beep Memory not installed or memory error.
One long beep and two short beeps then
repeat.
VGA not installed or VGA error.
Graphics card error/not installed, graphics card memory
error or graphics card BIOS checksum error.
One long beep then two short beep BIOS damaged.
BIOS is damaged, BIOS POST jumps to Boot Block to
execute the default procedures.
Two short beeps CMOS damaged.
CMOS checksum error or CMOS battery loss occurs.

So, if it was one beep: short is ok, long means memory issue.

Try this:
http://www.pchell.com/hardware/beepcodes.shtml#Phoenix_BIOS_Beep_Codes

Nice list that.

Gah, it won't make the beeps now and I can't remember the sequence apart from it was a fairly long sequence of short beeps.

I guess I just need to sit tight and see what happens?

Thanks for the help.

recently I started having issues. I asked the question about correcting it on the Any questions thread but i think i need more detailed guidance.

My laptop is struggling to play movies both online and offline.
It is a 64bit win 7; 2gig ram; Intel Core 2 CPU T7200@2GHz machine.

I was recommended that i upgrade the RAM and the OS. So far, Ive ordered the RAM (4gigs). but now I would like to move over to Linux OS like Ubuntu or Mint.

I have tried to understand what the fuck im supposed to do, but as im not IT I cant figure it out.

Please can you help:-)

I run a lower powered computer to do my stuff and it runs fine.

What I would say if you want to stick to windows 4gb will be more than enough and I can have a bash at running a few bits on it to clear any issues.

All for the cost of a hug ;)

Gah, it won't make the beeps now and I can't remember the sequence apart from it was a fairly long sequence of short beeps.

I guess I just need to sit tight and see what happens?

Thanks for the help.

Make sure the ram is seated properly as well as the drives, then see what happens.

What type of memory is in the laptop?

Gah, it won't make the beeps now and I can't remember the sequence apart from it was a fairly long sequence of short beeps.

I guess I just need to sit tight and see what happens?

Thanks for the help.

This might sound stupid but was anything leaning on / pressing any keys? Sometimes, this can cause a series of short beeps because there isn't any input required on boot...

Gah, it won't make the beeps now and I can't remember the sequence apart from it was a fairly long sequence of short beeps.

I guess I just need to sit tight and see what happens?

Thanks for the help.

Meantime.. do you have a backup?

I run a lower powered computer to do my stuff and it runs fine.

What I would say if you want to stick to windows 4gb will be more than enough and I can have a bash at running a few bits on it to clear any issues.

All for the cost of a hug ;)

It's not memory. Probably a poor video card or display driver conflict with something. Maybe porno bandwidth but that would be more obvious.

I see memory prices of all kinds are very low atm, 7dayshop are doing 64Gb CF cards for £64 (I feel SSD iPod 2.0 coming on) and ebuyer are doing 32Gb USB 2.0 sticks for £9.99 and USB 3.0 ones for £19.99.

My next little PC tech project is to get my RAID box working again. Previously it had 2x250Gb Samsung drives in RAID 1 but one has bit the dust, I've got a spare 1Tb drive sitting in my HTPC, which is now totally unused thanks to the quite excellent WD TV Live box. So I think I'll put the working 250gb drive into the HTPC and sell it (excellent price to anyone from here) and try and get a matching 1Tb to give a mirrored RAID big enough to store full HD films on.

why bother with RAID? just have 2 1TB drives...

because I will also be using it to probably store things i wish to keep as well.

This might sound stupid but was anything leaning on / pressing any keys? Sometimes, this can cause a series of short beeps because there isn't any input required on boot...

Hah, nah. The laptop stays closed under my desk like a tower, plugged into a monitor.

Meantime.. do you have a backup?

Keep anything vital on an external HDD. Though I really should back that up too.

Where does it end

It's not memory. Probably a poor video card or display driver conflict with something. Maybe porno bandwidth but that would be more obvious.

Yeah will have a look at it for him, if he wants. Even with 2gb it should be fine.

It's not memory. Probably a poor video card or display driver conflict with something. Maybe porno bandwidth but that would be more obvious.
how do i fix this?

get a powerful magnet and run it over the hard drive

how do i fix this?

You got me on ignore? Going to stop offering to help.

No i dont have you on ignore...

Sheesh.

Cheers for the offer, but im trying to fix it myself and if i fuck it up then its my fault.

Hah, nah. The laptop stays closed under my desk like a tower, plugged into a monitor.

Keep anything vital on an external HDD. Though I really should back that up too.

Where does it end

how do i fix this?