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Subject:
From:
Bob Wright <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
PCBUILD - Personal Computer Hardware discussion List <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 15 Mar 2004 15:10:58 -0700
Content-Type:
text/plain
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At 10:57 PM 3/13/2004, Ivanette Richardson wrote:

>I am trying to reformat a hard-drive for use in a CPU. Being that I could not get the
>hard-drive to boot, I put it in another machine with a newly reformatted HD, copied the
>files and tried to boot in the original CPU. When I first turn on the PC, the LED lights
>are on, but I get no signal to the monitor and keyboard. I perform a hard shutdown. When
>I restart the machine again, I am getting a long beep noise. The only way I have been
>able to get rid of this noise and try again is to unplug  the wall plug, the HD and the
>monitor/keyboard/mouse then let it sit in the state of being "left alone" for 24 to 48
>hrs! This is hilarious.
>Please help.
>This machine was built by someone I do not know and I cannot determine the motherboard
>type. The HD originally came with Windows ME...but apparently it stopped working. I am
>trying to install WindowsXP on this HD.


It took me a moment and a reread on this message to understand that you are referring to
the computer as a CPU.   CPUs are the primary processing chip on the motherboard.  Typically
we call these systems, computers or case.  Anyway, it sounds like that when you turn on the
system that is troubling you, you hear a long bios beep.  This is a signal that something is not
right in your configuration.  It could be many things...
1)  You might need to press the video card down into the PCI or AGP slot.
2)  The motherboard maybe damaged and needing replacement
3)  The processor or CPU may not be plugged into the motherboard properly
4)  Some other component maybe plugged into the motherboard wrong

First, try removing all cards from the slots except for your video card.  Disconnect all
ribbon cables
running to hard drives and floppy drives from the motherboard.  Be sure the power supply
wires running
to the motherboard are properly plugged in.  If you have moved or changed the CPU or
processor, be sure
to plug it in to the slot properly and that no pins are bent.  Be sure your ram modules
are secularly plugged
into the slots.  One last thing, be sure you have your monitor connected to the video
card and turned on.

Now, you are ready to test the system.  Press the on switch.  If you get the first screen
or the Post
screen, then half the battle is won.  If you get nothing or the long beep, my first
thought is that your
motherboard, CPU, Video card or memory has gone bad.  This is not easy to diagnose unless you
are a skilled PC tech.  You will need to take the system to a local PC repair shop.

Now, if you did in fact get the first screen/ Post screen to appear on the
monitor...  then we know
you have a problem with one of the components you unplugged.  First, plug the ribbon cable back
into your floppy drive.  If the system still posts, now you can put in a boot disk.  You
can download
a diagnostic disk software from our website.  You can add in each item, cards, hard
drives and other
items.  Restart the PC after you add each item back in.  If it fails to start after you
have added an
item, you will know that item could be bad or the slot it was using is bad.

That should get you started.  If you need further assistance, be sure to tell us the type
and speed of
your CPU...  and more about the other components in your PC.

    Bob Wright
The NoSpin Group, Inc.
http://freepctech.com - http://nospin.com


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