Xp Home startup with continuous bios beeps

System:

HP Pavilion a300n
XP Home SP2
realtek sound card
pheonix bios
motherboard is all one piece.

doesn't complete boot sequence no keyboard no mouse... fast beeps then one long continuous beep.

Tried lots of things, yet nothing.

 

Are all the fans working on the case/CPU?
Your problem sounds like RAM though....Video wold have more gaps. Trying removing the RAM, if the gold strips at the bottom doesn't look clean, try wiping it with the lead part of a pencil, re-sit make sure it is sitted properly and give it a try...
Also what kinda RAM are you using? Multiple sticks of it or single? more than 1 stick then try each one separately, if just one try another RAM. Make sure it is a decent brand and supported by your mobo though.

Uh, also have you tinkered with your BIOS settings? If so, try resetting the BIOS...that is it for now.

 

Haven't touched the RAM, just what came with the PC. Also, not sure how to reset the bios. Fans all work as I know of.

 

How long did you have this system and also how long ago did the problem start?
Normally only 2 HW components would cause the beeping at boot:
RAM and Video Card.
If no beeping occurs and no boot/ BIOS screen ever appears that could be various things but most commonly:
PSU problems, CPU problems, faulty BIOS that causes POST to not even run.

BIOS is very critical, problems occur due to people playing around with settings and configuring certain settings that the system (RAM, CPU, mobo) does not support.

RAM would give continous fast beeps. Faulty BIOS settings about RAM, CPU and Power settings could cause problems with no boot screen as well but generally there wouldn't be any continuos beeping (may be 1 nasty beep and then darkness).

Video card would have more melody to its beeps (not a sweet melody though!)

Either one would not let you see any boot screen. Monitor led light would remain brown/orange.
Resetting the BIOS could be done through the related BIOS reset jumpers See the Mobo manual for the location of this 3-pin jumper (if the mobo indeed comes with one). The default jumper setting would be a jumper (plastic piece with copper wire in it completing the circuit between the pins it is placed on) located on pins #1 & 2, to reset (as shown in the mobo manual), the system has to be shutdown. power cable is removed from the back of the PSU to prevent any damage to mobo. Remove the case side panel, touch a grounded metal surface such as your Power Supply Unit to discharge any static electric buildup on your body so you do not fry any components you may touch. Then preferably using a non-magnetized needle pliers remove the jumper from its default position and placed it on pin #2 & 3. Since the mobo battery would be providing the needed juice the BIOS reset should occur within a few seconds but it is adviseable to wait for 10 seconds, then place the pin back to its original position. Attached/plug/close everything back and fire up the system.
On most motherboards, removing the BIOS/CMOS battery (the flat metal battery that is located close the the BIOS chip itself) for several seconds would do the trick as well. IF motherboard doesn't configure vital settings automatically then you would have to enter the BIOS settings on boot and modify the settings in question for proper functioning of the system. Normally most mobos manufactured within the last few years should automatically configure the critical settings, which would appear as 'optimal' or 'auto' in BIOS.
PS. if you do not have the hardcopy manual for your BIOS, the best way to replace it would be to access the mobo manufacturer's web site with the model of your mobo handy and look for an updated manual (generally) in PDF format.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

Had pc for only 9 months - problem just started today when I started to insert a cable into the "line in" socket. The cord was not attached to anything.

Have not been able to find a manual for the mobo - asus p4g533. just having a hard time figuring out what is the jumper switch. Tried taking out the battery. Nothing. I do see the opening HP screen (f1 for ... etc) but no keyboard lite or mouse. Just rapid beeps.

Will open it again and check the RAM and look for the jumper

 

'Line in' as in the jack in the back of the Sound card (integrated or not)? Hmm...that shouldn't have any negative effects on the system unless you somehow discharged ESD thru that connection? I am assuming you already removed that cable from the line-in jack. Continuos beeps again would be RAM but if you can get far enough to see the HP boot screen and giving you the option to enter BIOS would indicate a corrupt/faulty BIOS. If removing and re-sitting the RAM stick and the BIOS battery didn't help then you'd have to reset the BIOS via jumpers I mentioned earlier.

Also for your mobo, you should be able to get related info from here.

 

explain jumper switch

 

Explain jumper switch? Look at my earlier post for detailed explanation on that.
But the bad news is your problem could be a defective/damaged mobo, I found this site that another guy seemingly had identical problem with the same mobo, read more about it here.

It seems the mobo is no good to begin with and it may be time for a replacement. I was not able to find a pic to be able to guide you but it is basically a 3-pin jumper and the jumper plug/lid (whatever you call that little plastic piece) goes on the first two on the left,to reset you move it to the 2nd & 3rd pins for 10 secs then back to its original position. If you are not to sure on playing around with the jumpers have a local repair shop do it for you (even for free I magine) or a tech savvy friend.
Either way good Luck...

 

Also wanted to let you know, I look at the only picture of the Asus posted on this link and could not make off the reset jumpers....too small and too blurry, at least for my eyes...sorry I tried.

Again read the site with the other person having the same exact problem as yours....quite possibly resetting the BIOS will not help but then again I didn't read that other guy being able to successfully reset the BIOS on his mobo either so it is your call.

 

I give up... can't identify the jumper switch either, but still same problem. One interesting bit of info is that is was a refurbished PC... and there could have been a static charge to mess up the mobo. Couldn't find a manual for it anywhere.

Any suggestions on a new mobo?

 

maybe this article can help you - http://kb.indiana.edu/data/afzy.html?cust=955518.92742.30

 

Actually, that doesn't help at all. There is no listing for a continous beep (that I can interpret) for Pheonix Bios. I've looked at those till I was blind. Am gonna have a repair shop look at it.

 

Yes, most forums about that mobo stated that (pardon my French) it was a P.o.S. mobo.
But as far as your problem goes, try having a technician or shop resetting your BIOS, if it doesn't help then consider the RAM possibility I mentioned initially (the repair shop could also temporarily put in a compatible RAM to test this as well). Worse case scenario buy a new mobo and be done with it.

Good Luck.

PS. suggestions on an alternative would depend on this: do you want to keep everything the same way without having to upgrade anything else or you would rather upgrade whatever you can (CPU-MOBO-RAM upgrades goes hand-in-hand which would pretty much mean a total system upgrade).

 

total upgrade would be cool, depending on the cost. most certainly could use more ram.

Thanks so much for your help. Am taking it to a repair shop today.

E.

 

Thanks for the help. Am taking it to the shop today.

Total upgrade is cool. Not too expensive, just reliable. Need more ram for sure.