486 DX2/66 POST error - 3 beeps

[jchoy]

Hi. My 486 DX2/66 screen would sometimes turn black and start the reboot process so I suspect CMOS battery problem since my clock is always slow by 5-10 minutes even after I adjusted it many times. I am running Windows95. The mother board manual said there is a J4 for Battery external connection so I took the 3.6 volts Lithium battery to the vendor who said to order a new one is $35.00 and gave me a bracket for 4 - 1.5 volt regular batteries. He said it would work even though it is 6 volts total !? I put regular batteries on and the black screen seems to disappear but after I closed the metal panel up thinking the problem was fixed, yesterday it started the POST 3 beeps error - 64 K base memory error. I even replaced the cheap batteries with gold dura cells batteries and still 3 beeps on POST time. I read the CPU manual again but couldn't find a place where there is any soldered battery or power source chip. The manual definitely said the external battery is to extend some other CPU battery's life and I suspect there is another soldered battery somewhere I couldn't find ! I scanned my internet temporary files and all cleared of viruses. I could plug back my DX/33 CPU to see if I still get the POST 3 beep error.

There is also a problem with my 15" screen cable, one of the gold pins were broken in the connector so I have been limping on a paper clip rod. I tried to replace the entire connector and broke more gold pins and now I had 3 paper clip rods acting as 3 gold pins. I am afraid to open up the CRT since A+ exam question says that is a definite no no, dangerous high voltage but I definitely need to replace the cable for my colour CRT !

I fought and fixed many problems to bring this baby flying on my high speed shaw internet, everything was fine contrary to common beliefs 486 is too slow. My only problem is no USB port and low capacities but email and non-high volume multi-media websites are working fine. I even use it for my ebay auction listings. I am just feeling sorry to abandon it right now to salvation army garabge cans without knowing what needs to be done to resurrect it.

I could be reached during day time at joel.choy@gems6.gov.bc.ca