Hey guys,

I'm helping a friend out with his computer and thought it would be just a bad video card because his monitor was not getting signal. I put in a working video card, and nothing still happened.
I then noticed I was getting a green light, and a red light on the front of the tower. I looked around the motherboard (MSI), and found the printout that I think was for the colors. It had the different combinations possible, like green green or green red. Green red said RAM. So I tried some different, working sticks of RAM, with nothing, but that's when I noticed I was getting one short beep at POST. I couldn't find the beep codes for this motherboard so I whipped out my meter and tested the PSU. Everything was getting the correct voltages on that.

Any ideas? I'm stumped.

Have you read this thread http://www.d-a-l.com/help/showthread.php?t=56139

also post computer specs and operating system specs for more detailed help.Mother board id brand and number is helpful also.

Thanks for the link- But I'm not sure what BIOS it has. Here are the specs:

MSI neo3 865PE
DDR Memory - tried 128mb, 512mb sticks in different slots..
400w PSU - Colors?
Intel Processor- i think, it's got a big ass cpu fan on it, didn't take that off yet.
Windows XP

I did get it to stop beeping. Disconnected everything except Motherboard, CPU, PSU, video card, RAM, and the front panel stuff. It powered on, no beeps, and there was still no video. I pulled out the RAM so that there was none in it and it didn't beep?? Plugged in the HDD and then it beeped once. ????
so wierd

Well checking the PSU with a VOM (Power supply unit with a Volt Ohm Meter) wont give you a good indication of what the power supply is doing since you're checking it out under a no load condition. A Tester for PSU's suggested by Digerati in the link I provided will tell you if the PSU is SNAFU. Or try another compatible PSU that you know works. I am gonna log off here for some hours cause I got commitments for a motorcycle ride today. Good luck with this and some more knowledeable people on this forum are sure to jump in and give you a hand.

rokytnji, thanks and enjoy your ride =]

When I take out the video card it doesn't beep. (it doesn't beep when no sticks of RAM are in too).
But when I plug in the HDD it makes one short beep. Do HDD's sometimes make sounds on their own? For example, when they receive power?

Is there anything else I can test for other than the PSU since I have to wait for that to ship?

I hope you are pulling and inserting these components with the power off, AND the power supply disconnected from the wall. The ATX Form Factor calls for +5Vsb standby voltages to be present across several points on the motherboard whenever the power supply is connected to a power source. This is for such things as Wake on LAN, Wake on Keyboard, and to power the front panel power button.

Do HDD's sometimes make sounds on their own? For example, when they receive power?

Some hard drives are pretty noisy when they first power up - the drive motor spins up and pickup arm stepper motor moves the arms away from the auto-parking spot.

You should probably start with 1 stick of RAM and the graphics card - no drives or other devices, then boot. You should see the graphics card splash screen, then the RAM count, typically one beep, then it will freeze when it can't find the boot drive.

There should also be a model number and revision number stamped on the motherboard someone. If it is an OEM, it may not have the maker's name.

I also start by swapping monitors, not graphics cards. Monitors are pretty much plug and play - they don't require major driver changes like swapping graphics cards do. So it is a bit late but I would try the original monitor on another computer - just to make sure it works.

@Digerati thanks for the reply,

Yep, I always make sure I disconnect the power before I put my hand in there =]

Originally Posted by Digerati

You should probably start with 1 stick of RAM and the graphics card - no drives or other devices, then boot. You should see the graphics card splash screen, then the RAM count, typically one beep, then it will freeze when it can't find the boot drive.

There should also be a model number and revision number stamped on the motherboard someone. If it is an OEM, it may not have the maker's name.

I also start by swapping monitors, not graphics cards. Monitors are pretty much plug and play - they don't require major driver changes like swapping graphics cards do. So it is a bit late but I would try the original monitor on another computer - just to make sure it works.

This is exactly what I did. When I only had the RAM and Video card in, there was nothing displayed on the screen, and there were no beeps. If I would take either, or both the RAM and the Video Card out, there would be no beeps again. The motherboard is a MSI neo3 865PE.

I am using a different monitor...I went to his house, and brought it back with me. I'm definitely sure that the monitor I'm using, here, works.

Could it not be going through POST? Since it isn't beeping when the memory and/or RAM is removed? If so what should I check?

No beebs is a concern - and points to a bad motherboard - assuming it is getting proper power - which is what I think you need to confirm. If good, you might try resetting the BIOS.

I have tested the PSU using the method here:
http://www.ochardware.com/articles/p.../psuvolt2.html

Are you guys saying that that way shown in the link is not actually telling me if the PSU is good or bad? Is it because when you jumper the PSU on, it doesn't actually have to put out actual power to components?

I'm not the greatest with hardware, I know. By the way, I did reset the BIOS, using the jumper on the motherboard, and I took out the CMOS battery for a while, and put it back in, and same thing happens. Thanks guys.