bios beeps

[shifty_nz]

my computer has a AMI bios and its a AMD tbird900, sometimes when i start the computer it beeps 3 times nothing happens then beeps 3 times again and it does this forever, nothing will work, i reboot but same thing, but if I wait about 20 minutes it will reboot ok PLEASE any ideas

[rileyroe]

AMIBIOS Beep Codes
Except for beep code #8, these codes are always fatal.
· 1 beep Refresh failure
· 2 beeps Parity error
· 3 beeps Base 64K memory failure
· 4 beeps Timer not operational
· 5 beeps Processor error
· 6 beeps 8042 - gate A20 failure
· 7 beeps Processor exception interrupt error
· 8 beeps Display memory read/write failure
· 9 beeps ROM checksum error
· 10 beeps CMOS shutdown register read/write error
· 11 beeps Cache memory bad
· For 1 beep, 2 beeps, or 3 beeps try reseating the memory first. If the error still occurs, replace the
memory with known good chips.
· For 4 beeps, 5 beeps, 7 beeps, or 10 beeps the system board must be sent in for repair.
· For 6 beeps try reseating the keyboard controller chip. If the error still occurs, replace the keyboard chip.
If the error persists, check parts of the system relating to the keyboard, e.g. try another keyboard, check
to see if the system has a keyboard fuse.
· 8 beeps indicate a memory error on the video adapter. Replace the video card or the memory on the
video card.
· 9 beeps indicate faulty BIOS chip(s). It is not likely that this error can be corrected by reseating the
chips. Consult the motherboard supplier or an AMI product distributor for replacement part(s).
· If no beeps are heard and no display is on the screen, The first thing to check is the power supply.
Connect an LED to the POWER LED connection on the motherboard. If this LED lights and the drive(s)
spin up then the power supply will usually be good.
· Next, inspect the motherboard for loose components. A loose or missing CPU, BIOS chip, Crystal
Oscillator, or Chipset chip will cause the motherboard not to function.
· Next, eliminate the possibility of interference by a bad or improperly set up I/O card by removing all card
except the video adapter. The system should at least power up and wait for a drive time-out. Insert the
cards back into the system one at a time until the problem happens again. When the system does
nothing, the problem will be with the last expansion card that was put in.
· If the above suggestions fail to cause any change in the disfunction of the system, the motherboard
must be returned for repair.
Hope this helps

[Biff]

I got this info from the below link. Your computer has memory problems. First check video. If video is working, you'll see an error message. If not, you have a parity error in your first 64K of memory. First check your SIMM's. Reseat them and reboot. If this doesn't do it, the memory chips may be bad. You can try switching the first and second banks memory chips. First banks are the memory banks that your CPU finds its first 64K of base memory in. You'll need to consult your manual to see which Your computer has memory problems. First check video. If video is working, you'll see an error message. If not, you have a parity error in your first 64K of memory. First check your SIMM's. Reseat them and reboot. If this doesn't do it, the memory chips may be bad. You can try switching the first and second banks memory chips. First banks are the memory banks that your CPU finds its first 64K of base memory in. You'll need to consult your manual to see which bank is first. If all your memory tests good, you probably need to buy another motherboard.
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lakes/3553/beeps.htm

[socalgal]

Moved to Tech Support.