Computer has problems booting

[philipg]

Ok I'm working on someone's PC

486(25)
gd cl-5401 cirrus VGA card
327 MB HD
4 MB RAM (comes out as 37xx kb)
1 3-1/2 and 1 5-1/4 floppy drive.

Computer will do one of three things when powered up:

1.) turn on and beep eight short beeps
2.) turn on and beep 1 long and 3 short.
3.) turn on and will just post and stop with a HDD controller error or with a different HD will boot up fine once in awhile.

I'm at a total lose I've never seen a MOBO do this before.

I've tried replacing the VGA card same thing. Pulling Ram and switching around, no luck. I've even tried removeing all except the vga and ram same thing.

I would like to get this to run since the person doesn't have the money to replace the computer.

[This message has been edited by philipg (edited 07-28-99).]

[DavidX]

Can you boot from a floppy?

[Bob-NB]

Here's a site for mobo beep's telling what they mean for many mobo manufacturers. They are actually called POST or Power On Self Test and are by Bios maunfacturer.

http://www.randomc.com/~dperr/beepcode.htm
good Luck

[ufo]

I got that today acually on a computer that I was working on.. but it was 3 beeps.
what I can sugest usually when it beeps its your vid.. Remove your vid card and place it in another.. if not try useing a diff vid card.

[devjoy]

Have you tried s different controller card. I have had similar problems when the controller cards went bad on some of my old 486s. The controller cards are luckily one of the cheapest parts, but I have had to replace them on the same machine 3 times since 1992.

[philipg]

First off thanks to all for your replies.

Second:

Davidx, no the computer won't boot to a floppy, infact the errors still happen even after I disconnect them.

Bob-nb, great site but I already knew about this site, as far as the beep codes I haven't the clue what that 1 long and 3 short mean.

everyone else I already tried that with no success.

[chrisT]

I remember bookmarking a page about beeps and coincidently, its from this site;~)

http://www.sysopt.com/biosbmc.html

It says one long and 3 short beeps is video failure.

[philipg]

Thanks chrisT thats exactly what I was looking for except the video card in this board is a piece of S**t less than 1MEG ram VGA/CGA video card and it apears to work great in my AMD K6-2/333 system, replaced card with a known good working one same errors.

I'm beginning to think that the mobo has some intermitent short issues.

[chrisT]

You're welcome;~)

Wanna talk wacky motherboards?? LOL I have modem(me and my bloody modem problems, I tell ya*g*) A friend gave me the modem when she bought a new computer, its much better than what *I* have which is like 14.4, which mind you is reliable, just slow.

So this friend gives me a 33.6, and I try and install it on my computer? Won't even let me boot windows anymore....try it on a computer at work? No problems...

Tried it with my new H-D, thinking maybe there were residual driver problems before? Won't let me even install win95...:PPP

Technology isn't always all its cracked up to be...*sigh*

[amscollecting]

The beep depends on the BIOS. Ami Bios beep code suggests you have conventional extended memory failure.( 1 long 3 short.)
Ibm post suggests Enhanced Graphics Adapter(EGA) Faulty (1 long 3 short) Since video has been changed I would definetly try a new stick of mem. Good Luck.