Beep code

[Firemark]

My son and I are building a new computer. Everything went well until installing the OS, Win XP Pro. It froze during the partitioning at 37%. After about 1 1/2 hours I tried to gt out and couldn't. Finally I just turned off the computer. After rebooting I now get 1 long beep code repeating itself and no post on the monitor. Any ideas what I hosed doing this?

Mark

[Dark Nova]

any short beeps with the long?
http://www.pcmech.com/show/troubleshoot/14/

also try this: Having problems with a new build? Try this.
http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=12753

[Eriol]

speaking of beep codes, I started my computer last night without a HDD (its arriving today or monday) and I got to the setup screen with the error message system disk error(which I expected). But my question is should I have heard a POST beep because it didnt make any sounds or does it only post with a hdd connected, I checked the speaker cable and it was connected.

[Dark Nova]

Originally Posted by Eriol speaking of beep codes, I started my computer last night without a HDD (its arriving today or monday) and I got to the setup screen with the error message system disk error(which I expected). But my question is should I have heard a POST beep because it didnt make any sounds or does it only post with a hdd connected, I checked the speaker cable and it was connected.

Eriol, make your own post and ill answer there

[Firemark]

No short beeps, just one long one.

Mark

[Dark Nova]

have you tried the problem with "having problems with first build" thing?

[Firemark]

Well here we go. Just for the fun of it I tried to boot up again this evening. Guess what, it booted up just fine. Started installing XP pro. After a couple of freeze ups which I just restarted the installation, it finally installed and ran perfectly. Updated the drivers and restarted each time. Ran great. Finished up the inside by plugging in the remaining front usb, 1393, audio wires. Started it back up and wouldn't you know it, it won't post and I get that same beep code. removed all the wires I plugged in, still beeping. Going to let it rest and try again in the morning. Any other sugestions? Looked on the one sight that listed beep codes and 1 short beep = bad motherboard. Is there a way to test the motherboard?

Mark

[Dark Nova]

um this is weird, the only way to test a mobo is to exchange it.

before returning it, i would do a ram diagnostics found here memtest.org

[travis77]

on most mobo a long beep code repeating itself tells you that your memory is bad so i will to that test to.
how much ram do you have in it.

[pam123]

Could we have your specs please?
It helps when we know what hardware we're dealing with.

[Firemark]

We are running 1024mb Crucial DDR. 2 x 512. What is the best way to test it? Remove one at a time?

Wouldn't you know it. The computer fired right up this morning. During my sleep deprived fog last night I forgot to post a message that came up on the computer during the installation of the video drivers.

System Setup.Log - C:\Windows\Setuperr.log

Error:
Setup had problems registering the following OLE control DLL:
C:\Windows\System32|inipki.dll

The signature code for Windows XP Setup is invalid. The error code is80096001. A system level error occurred while verifying trust.

Fatal Error:
Setup failed to install the Products Catalogs. This is a fatal error. The setup log should contain more information.


When it has booted to the main screen after this there is a box on the screen that says:

cli.exe - application error
The application failed to initialize properly (0xe0000135).
Click on OK to terminate the application.


Thanks for all the help so far,
Mark

[Firemark]

Sorry,

MSI K8n Neo Platinum
Athlon 64 3200+
1024mb Crucial DDR 3200
ATI Radeon 9800 All In Wonder Pro
Western Digital 160 gb PATA
Creative Audigy 2 ZS sound card

[pam123]

The two obvious things to test are the hard drive and the memory.
Running one stick of ram at a time is the first test for the memory followed by running memtest, if necessary : http://www.memtest.org/#downiso
Get the floppy version if you have a floppy drive on that computer, otherwise you need the disk ISO version (use Nero or Roxio to burn it ISO).
Depending on what version you use boot the computer from the appropriate drive and run it.
If the memory checks out okay, then go to the Western Digital site and download and run the diagnostic for the hard drive.
About Beeps : As a rule one short beep at start up means all is right with the computer and one long means memory problems but (isn't there always one) it could also be the memory on the video card that's causing the problem.
Since you can see what's going on we'll do the basic drill with the memory and the hard drive before we do anything else.

[Firemark]

Here we go again,
Tried removing the memory sticks and using them one at a time. No change. Ran out of time yesterday. After a while I couldn't get the cocomputer to boot up again. Just that single beep. Came back this mornig to run the memtest. Turned the computer on, it was laying on its side, it booted up, I stood the tower up vertically so I could access the cd drive (no floppy drive),
and the computer froze. Turned it off then back on, no boot, single beep. Layed it back on its side, booted up. I tried this 3 more times, each time it booted up only to freeze up when I stood the tower to the standing position.

I finally booted it back up on its side to run memtest off the cd and I must have downloaded the wrong one. Couldn't find the setup icon once it started. I can tell this is going to be a long day.

[pam123]

If the computer boots when you change its' position that's a dead give away that a part and/or connection is shifting.
That is your problem.
It's a pain but your best bet is to take it apart and put it back together being especially careful that everything is in tight ( don't go crazy and strip screws but you get the idea).

[Firemark]

Thanks, that seems to have done the trick. I'm not sure what may have been loose or not connected correctly, but, I pulled everything except the CPU and put them back. I did switch a connector to the hard disk. the one that I had cinnected seemed to be stretched pretty tight. It now boots perfectly 5 times in a row and I hope that issue is settled. I now have one final issue that have a suspicion was cause by this previous probem and I hope it can be solved also.

Thank you all very much,
Mark

[Firemark]

Apparently this didn't get fixed. After moving the computer to my sons room, we tried to boot up and went through the same, no post/one long beep issue. Lay it on its side it boots up almost every time. Stand it up while its running, it freezes up. I'm sure something is loose but not to sure how to figure out what. I'm actually thinking that something on the motherboard itself is loose. Before I send it back to MSI to get tested (I sent for and received an RMA)anyone have anymore suggestions?

Mark

[pam123]

For some reason either the video card or the memory is coming loose when you stand the case upright ( it's always possible that it's one of the little 'doo-hickeys' on the board as well).
The only cure for that is sending the board back.
Just in case though, check over the memory and the video card, if either lifts even slightly when you stand the case upright, because either the motherboard can't fix them in place like it should ( another reason to rma the board) or because they're slightly warped ( most likely to be the video card where it screws into the slot at the back of the case) you'll get the same thing.

[Firemark]

Tonight, just before disassembling it to send in the motherboard, we ran a couple more "tests" to see if we could see anything (video card, memory module) move when the case was turned vertical. No such luck. Pushed on everythingto make sure it was still seated. It still wouldn't boot up in the upright position. I then started pushing lightly and holding pressure on the CPU fan in different corners and tried starting up. When I pushed on the lower left hand corner, near the hinge side of the CPU lock, it booted up and ran fine. I turned it off and tried again without pressure and it booted up again and again. Added this info in my letter to MSI. Hopefully I found the problem and they can fix it, or send me another board.