This started along time ago but has become more frequent recently. When I press the on button the light comes on but nothing happens apart from a seris of beeps that does not stop untill I hold in the on button and try again. It never happens twice in a row, I have added new hardware but this problem has happened right from the off but has been happening ALOT more recently.

My computer is an ADVENT T9000 (the terminator!) and details are here:

http://www.pcservicecall.co.uk/Layout.aspx?CatID={b2d52a1f-e736-426a-97dd-d58e492ceeb0}&ID={8cead7b0-cfd7-44d0-b1b4-467cde327e89}

Is this something to be worried about? Or is it just one of a computer many 'nuances' as I said the computer works fine once booted but its a bit wierd and having many people who use the pc some with little experience and wouldn't know what to do apart from switch it off and hope it goes away. (Myself included) Anywho, cheers for your time as always

How many beeps do you get??

The PC uses the Phoenix-Award BIOS. and by the number of beeps it will tell you what the problem is

It beeps continuosly until I reset it!

The beeping appears random and insignificant to most people but it's actually a code formulated of short beeps (less than half a second), long beeps (about a second) and pauses (the quiet bit in between!). In that respect, it's just like morse code and, believe it or not, the exact pattern of shorts, longs and pauses can be deciphered into a meaningful explanation of your problem, just like Brain Damage said

Could you please make a note of the sequence of shorts, longs and pauses and let us know what it is?

Example: "Short, pause, short, pause, long. Then it stops for a few seconds and then it does the same again: short, pause, short, pause, long."

Righty never knew that, ok then the beeps are all short beeps with short pauses like machine gun fire. How long could pattern be?, I never let it last long because it doesn't sound healthy, I will let it run a little next time but I feel there is no variation in what I've heard. Just short beeps with very short pauses.
I shouldn't have to wait long for another episode so if this isn't enough I'll get back shortly. Thanks

It won't do more than 9 beeps before it restarts the sequence so it does sound like your beep code is just "short, pause" repeated over and over.

I don't have a beep code table for a Phoenix-Award BIOS but I do have one for a Phoenix BIOS and an Award BIOS. This sequence doesn't seem to feature on the Phoenix BIOS but, referring to the Award BIOS beep codes, I see that it is most likely to indicate a memory (RAM) error.

If you are comfortable with opening your computer base unit in an anti-static environment (e.g. on a wooden kitchen table on a wooden floor), then remove the memory modules and refit one module (or one pair if you have 72-pin SIMM memory) securely into the slot and then switch the PC back on again. If that doesn't help, open the case up again and move the memory module to a different slot and try to start the system up again. If that doesn't help, remove the memory and fit a different memory module if you have more than one.

You may find that you have one or more defective RAM modules or one or more defective slots.

Let us know if that helps

Ok thanks I'll give it a go and get back to you.

Well I've done what you suggested and all is well! It hasn't happened since so I suppose the ram must have 'slipped' or something, so to DJNafey and brain_damage, thanks very much for solving my problem and teaching me new things,and long live this site!

Thanks for letting us know

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