Hi all, a co-workers computer is acting funny, when the power is turned on it does the initial beep, and then locks onto a continous beep (almost like a telephone ringing. the monitor says it is not getting a signal, and none of the keys on the keyboard light up (the number lock, f-lock, or caps lock). He is running windows 98, I am unsure of any other details about the computer itself as it won't boot into anything, it just freezes. Update: we powered up and the computer started, went into the memory test sequesnce and stopped at the initial screen (press del for set-up) however the keyboard is not functioning to input any commands.


It took 5 times of rebooting before it finally made it all the way through the boot process, it is an old (old, old, Old) computer, I have advised him to take it for upgrades.

Thanks,
Swizzleskin

Hello Swizzleskin,

Beep codes obviously usually mean there is a hardware related problem. The easiest way to test which piece of hardware is causing the issue is to remove all peripheral devices and all memory except for one stick. So basically take out network cards, modems, video card (if you have an on board video and can run it from there), etc. etc. and leave one stick of memory. If you still get beeping, try the other stick of memory. If you still get beeping, it basically leaves just your motherboard and CPU left as the possible culprit and wouldn't be worth wasting your time to fix.

If you have everything out and don't get beeping. Then keep adding one peripheral at a time until you do get beeping, or until all components are back in and no more beeping occurs. If you have everything back in and no more beeping happens and the unit boots normally, then you probably just had an unseated component that needed to be reseated.

If the computer is as old as I think it is, don't even bother upgrading. Legacy components get more expensive over time and you're gonna pay mucho dinero just to upgrade a unit that is probably gonna take a dirt nap soon anyway. Besides the fact you're not going to see much performance improvement.

Hope any of that info helps you!