Im building a couple of computers for a friend of mine. The first one worked like a charm. The second one, on the other hand has been a pain in my A$$! I go to boot it up and it fails POST. The tones are 1 long and 2 short. I've looked on the internet and found that with my bios (phoenix) it means that its Video Adapter Error. Which seems to be true because my monitor will not come out of sleep mode. I've already exchanged the MoBo I've reseated the RAM, moved it to the other 2 slots. and nothing else is connected other than the basic components. PLEASE HELP!!
2006-07-18 16:13:23 · 7 answers · asked by Mark R 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
Oh, i guess I failed to mention, I am not using an aftermarket video card. Im using the onboard graphics.
2006-07-18 16:23:40 · update #1
Beleive it or not, its the RAM thats bad. I took a little of everyone's advice and disconnected pretty much everything and it was still giving me the same POST error. I got this crazy hair to try and take out ONE of the sticks of RAM and wouldnt you know, the PC came to life! So I actually have ONE bad stick. Yes, i did switch them out, and it boots up with one, and not with the other. Thanks for everyone's help!!
2006-07-18 17:03:15 · update #2
I've had that problem. Here is what I ended up doing.
- replaced motherboard
- replaced Intel P4 chip
- replace memory
- reseat memory
- tried just one memory at a time
- cleared CMOS
- studied Bios upgrade, but spoke with Tech support to learn that I already had the latest.
I wonder if you can swap parts with the good one, to ensure that your CPU is good. Then try RAM chips. But swap only one at a time, so you can identify all of the good parts.
2006-07-18 16:19:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 12⤊ 0⤋
Try unhooking all devices from the mobo. Unplug floppy (if one), CD, DVD, remove modem card, anything that can be unplugged except for the PSU and the harddrive. Leave the memory in for now. After doing so, try booting up. If it works, then one of those devices is bad.
Now, replace one at a time to see which one will not allow it to boot.
I recently had this problem, when a friend's computer took on a power surge. It took out the mobo and the PSU. I replaced them and couldn't get graphics to come up. I removed all devices from the mobo, and found that it was the modem card. I replaced it and it booted up just fine.
2006-07-18 23:19:03 · answer #2 · answered by Christian93 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A video adapter error probably means that either the video card is bad, or simply not compatible with the motherboard in question. Without more detailed information, it's hard to give a better answer than that.
2006-07-18 23:18:39 · answer #3 · answered by Ryan D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Does it have a video card? or is it onboard?
POST is telling you that there is a problem with the Video so playing with the ram wont help.
2006-07-18 23:21:25 · answer #4 · answered by rsist34 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mark,
Try the Graphics card from PC1 to PC2 for testing and vice versa. If its a bad graphics card then just get a new one.
2006-07-18 23:18:17 · answer #5 · answered by Devyani 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
troubleshooting is difficult, what i would do is substitute parts from the working unit til you find it, since it is onboard video i would try the ram first, then the CPU, cause all you need to post is CPU memory and video
2006-07-19 00:49:02 · answer #6 · answered by johnman142 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mark try using NIKE Trainers. This will work I am sure.
2006-07-19 05:01:43 · answer #7 · answered by Joe_Young 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋