Beeps at bootup, will only boot into HDD OS with USB Drive connected.

Hi.

A friend has a Netbook with Windows XP. I advised them to switch to another OS as all updates from Micro$oft have ceased. They mentioned that it boots up with many beeps and then gets into XP.

I installed Lubuntu 14.04. The beeps problem at bootup remains. Oddly, if I boot with the USB drive that I installed Lubuntu from -- the HDD OS boots fine.

When I try to boot normally, it has many beeps. There is a blinking cursor in the top left of the screen and I cannot get to the Lubuntu login screen. If I press a key, it beeps a few times then there's silence.

What's the cause and what must I do?

Thanks.

 

I think a key is stuck. Although when I do get to login no key is pressed in. The delete key is not responding.

 

What make and model is the Netbook? Did you happen to count the beeps were they long? short? and were there any blinking LEDs during boot up? Different makes have different beep/LED codes that point to specific issues during boot up. We need to know so we can help determine what the cause(s) are.

Lubuntu is good for "older" equipment, but I'm not sure about Netbooks.

As far as XP, Microsoft has ended Security updates but MSE will still get definition updates and there is a whole slew of third party AV and anti-malware companies including Avast, AVG, Comodo, etc that are supporting XP for another two years or more.

I've got Vista for my laptop already installed on one of my hard drives but am running XP with Comodo Internet Security, MalwareBytes AntiMalware, MalwareBytes AntiExploit, SuperAntiSpyware, Spyware Blaster and Bill P Studios' WinPatrol Plus. Depending on what they use the Netbook for and what sites they go to XP may not be "dead" yet.

 

Hi mdonah.

The netbook is a 'eMachines Acer eMD350-21G16i Atom N450'.
The beeps were many and fairly short.
I noticied no blinking lights.

 

I seemed to somehow installed GRUB onto the USB flash drive.

I ran this code to solve it:

Code:

sudo grub-install /dev/sda
sudo update-grub

The beeps issue must be seperate though as that was there before I installed Lubuntu.

 

The beeping is from POST, the self test the computer runs. Can you please count the number of beeps? Are there pauses between beep sequences? You've supplied the make and model of the Netbook but the beep sequences should point to specifics and can be looked up at the manufacturer's support site. Just on a hunch, I think some sticky liquid may have been spilled on the keyboard and the keyboard may need to be replaced. But, we won't know for sure until we can ascertain the beep codes.

 

There were 50+ beeps today with no pauses between them. I hit the power button - this stopped the beeps but did not restart the PC; instead it continued the boot process. The weird text was being output as if someone was holding down a key can be overcome by hitting the Enter key. I can then get to the login screen.

Sometimes it boots without beeps.

The CMOS is InsydeH2O.

 

50+ beeps? :eek It would seem that a key IS sticking (maybe broken return spring). Also, the fact that the Delete key doesn't work confirms my hunch about the keyboard needing replacement. It may not be the result of a sticky liquid, but more due to "heavy handed" use.

 

IMO dirty key board, on a notebook there is no fix.

 

I wonder why when I do login, and open a text editor - I don't get any typed garble as if a key is being pressed. Once logged in, everything seems fine.

 

It's a netbook.

 

That is why I said no fix, just replacement, unfortunately it is hard to check out witout opening the unit disconnecting its cable then try a USB board.