[XP] Dell Dimension 4700c Beeps on Startup
Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: [XP] Dell Dimension 4700c Beeps on Startup

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    5

    [XP] Dell Dimension 4700c Beeps on Startup

    My Desktop beeps on startup.
    I read around and found that the beeps actually mean something.
    The pattern is 1-3-2. Google tells me that the pattern means "The test of the first 64KB RAM has failed to start".
    However, I have no idea what that means.
    Can someone help me out?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2000
    Location
    Sheboygan, WI
    Posts
    53,392
    Either you have a bad stick (s) of ram or the ram on the video card is bad but unless you have notadded a video card, then you have bad ram.

    The next step would be to test the ram to see which stick(s) are bad.
    You can use a floppy or make a bootable cd using the .ISO

    http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp
    http://www.memtest86.com/

    If one program does not find a error, then run the other.
    If a error is found, then if you have more than one stick, test each one by itself to find the bad one(S). Yes it can be more than one stick that is bad.

    What crucial says about the ram you may need..
    http://www.crucial.com/store/listpar...4700C%20Series

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    5
    That would be the first thing I would have guessed...
    However there is a big problem to that statement.

    The computer worked fine only a few days ago.

    Nothing was opened (I opened the computer up after the beeps started to make sure everything was attached properly).
    Nothing was changed hardware or firmware wise.
    Unless the rams fried and blew up, I can't imagine that being the problem.

    I forgot to mention one of the symptoms, though.
    When I turn it on, the fan turns on and accelerates to the point where I fear my computer is going to break.
    It gets really loud and I have never experienced the fan going this fast until this problem appeared.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Daly City, CA
    Posts
    22,550
    The computer worked fine only a few days ago.
    Means nothing.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    5
    Quote Originally Posted by Broni
    Means nothing.
    Just wondering if "wrong ram chips" is the correct answer...

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2000
    Location
    Sheboygan, WI
    Posts
    53,392
    Mismatched ram can definitely cause some real hair pulling errors!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Daly City, CA
    Posts
    22,550
    You need to run those RAM tests.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    5
    Bah. I am not at the computer right now so I can't run the tests.
    I'll try to run them later today.

    However, there might be a problem.
    The computer starts beeping as soon as it turns on, even before the Dell Screen and before I can get any BIOS up.
    Even after leaving it on for a prolonged period of time (and risking the fan overloading because it starts spinning extremely fast) the monitor remains blank.

    Will running an ISO be plausible even though I cannot order it to boot directly from a CD?

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2000
    Location
    Sheboygan, WI
    Posts
    53,392
    If you have a floppy drive use it.
    See if you can get into the BIOS and set the floppy/cd before the hdd.

    You need these instructions on the iso bit.
    http://www.petri.co.il/how_to_write_iso_files_to_cd.htm


    Repeating beeps Memory Error - Memory is either damaged or badly seated
    Hi Frequency Beeps - Overheating CPU

    Looks like one or the other from your discription.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    5
    Thanks for the instructions on how to write the ISO.
    However, I am running Linux on the computer I am currently using so I'll just go with K3B.

    As for the beeps, I wouldn't describe them as high frequency (neither high pitched or many beeps).
    There also is no floppy on the computer that needs fixing.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2000
    Location
    Sheboygan, WI
    Posts
    53,392
    K3B should be able to do it.


    Leaning more toward the ram then.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •