I was away a long time and left my machine in the care of someone I thought didn't know enough to screw it up :-) I don't think he did, as I've anti-viruses, de-trojaned and cleaned it up totally, but still when I boot it up it beeps. Sometimes a few beeps (like 6) more usually for three minutes or more at a time. Sometimes it will boot into Windows, more often I have to do the Esc F12 route, and then it usually boots up, but not always. I get all sorts of messages on the screen, paragraph long ones, but not always. This has been going on since 27th Aug when I got the machine back.

When I type, 3s sometimes come out endlessly, even if I connect another keyboard. However that key doesn't work (I used the on-screen keyboard just now). Sometimes a 'b' or an 'e' will cause the Start menu or Windows Explorer to open. The CD burner doesn't work so I can't make a boot up disk and my last one has disappeared. The machine doesn't have a floppy drive.

The computer is just over two years old, so it shouldn't be a hardware failure but I can't think what else.

I checked the Event Viewer and there are a lot of errors under Application and System. The Application events are 1000, 1001, 1517 and 1800. The System ones are mostly 7001, but also 6005, 6009, 7035, 7036 from Service Control Manager (although they were more varied and from different sources earlier in the week).


I did a scan from your online hardware page and this is it below. I would be very grateful if you could help as I can't afford another machine right now.

Thanks very much
Petra
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OS Information:
PropertyValue
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition|C:\WINDOWS|\Device\Harddisk0\Partition1
Service Pack 2.0
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS


Processor:
PropertyValue
Current Clock Speed 2591
Description x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 9
Manufacturer GenuineIntel
Name Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 2.60GHz


Memory (RAM):
PropertyValue
Bank Label DIMM 1
Capacity 268435456

Total Memory Deteced in Hardware: ~256 MB
Memory Reported to Operating System: 191MB

Disk Drives:
PropertyValue
Description Disk drive
Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
Model IC25N040ATMR04-0
Media Type Fixed hard disk media
Size 40007761920 (~37 GB)
Number of Partitions 1


Installed Printers:
PropertyValue
Name Microsoft Office Document Image Writer
Port Name Microsoft Document Imaging Writer Port:
Default False
Driver Name Microsoft Office Document Image Writer Driver

Name hp officejet 4100 series
Port Name USB001
Default True
Driver Name hp officejet 4100 series


Motherboard:
PropertyValue
Manufacturer Hewlett-Packard
Model
Name Base Board
Part Number
Product 0850
Serial Number None
Version NS570 Version PQ1B60


BIOS:
PropertyValue
Manufacturer Phoenix Technologies Ltd.
Name PhoenixBIOS 4.0 Release 6.0
Release Date 20031113000000.000000+000
Version PTLTD - 6040000


Monitor:
PropertyValue
Description Default Monitor
Name Default Monitor
Screen Height 768
Screen Width 1024


Keyboard:
PropertyValue
Description Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard


Pointing Device:
PropertyValue
Manufacturer Microsoft
Name PS/2 Compatible Mouse


Sound Card:
PropertyValue
Manufacturer Acer Laboratories Inc.
Description ALi Audio Accelerator WDM driver
Device ID PCI\VEN_10B9&DEV_5451&SUBSYS_0850103C&REV_02\3&61A AA01&0&30

Manufacturer Microsoft
Description Unimodem Half-Duplex Audio Device
Device ID MODEMWAVE\0\{0453C589-D9FD-475B-BC8E-4570DBA029C8}


Video Card:
PropertyValue
Adapter Compatibility ATI Technologies Inc.
Adapter RAM 67108864
Description RADEON IGP 345M
Installed Display Drivers ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version 6.14.10.6436
Driver Date 15/05/2004 23:29:12
Video Mode Description 1024 x 768 x 4294967296 colors


DirectX Installation:
PropertyValue
Version 6.03.01.0146


Modem:
PropertyValue
Model Conexant 56K ACLink Modem
Name Conexant 56K ACLink Modem


Network Adapters:
PropertyValue
Description National Semiconductor DP83815-Based PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter - Packet Scheduler Miniport
Description RAS Async Adapter
Description Packet Scheduler Miniport
Description WAN Miniport (L2TP)
Description WAN Miniport (PPTP)
Description WAN Miniport (PPPOE)
Description Direct Parallel
Description WAN Miniport (IP)
Description Packet Scheduler Miniport

External Ports:
PropertyValue

Expansion Slots:
PropertyValue
Slot Designation PCI Slot 1
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Check the Event Viewer for service details under the 7001 error.
Here are some possibilities:
http://www.eventid.net/display.asp?e...anager&phase=1

If the beeps are coming right on power-up then you probably do have a hardware & or BIOS problem.

Try this scan to ID your make & model of computer as well as your motherboard:
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
What is under System Model as well as Main Circuit Board?

Do you have your XP CD or the manufacturers' Recovery CD?

Thank you for your fast reply :-)

SYSTEM MODEL
Hewlett-Packard Pavilion ze8500 (DW396U) KH.F.18
System Serial Number: CNF3522H2Q
Enclosure Type: Notebook

MAIN CIRCUIT BOARD
Board: Hewlett-Packard 0850 NS570 Version PQ1B60
BIOS: Phoenix Technologies Ltd. KF_KH.F.18 11/13/2003

I went to the Eventid site, but it was all above my head, sorry to say.

Not sure if I have any of the CDs for this machine. I will check first thing tomorrow.

Here are some HP links that you can browse along with us.

Let us know if you see any familiar issues.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...name=c00372703

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...ory&rule=11778

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/s...product=389697

I checked the links. None of the issues looked familiar. Its as I described before. Endless beeping, unreliable booting and keys not typing properly. Something else though - passwords typed from the laptop keyboard always fail, but are ok from a connected one.

Thanks Petra

Keyboard error could be quite a posibility as it is one of the first checks of the BIOS.

This is the list of Phoenix BIOS Beep Codes:

This BIOS emits three sets of beeps. For example, 1 -pause- 3 -pause 3 -pause. This is a 1-3-3 combo and each set of beeps is separated by a brief pause. Listen to this sequence of sounds, count them, and reboot and count again if you have to.



1-1-3 Your computer can't read the configuration info stored in the CMOS. Replace the motherboard.
1-1-4 Your BIOS needs to be replaced.
1-2-1 You have a bad timer chip on the motherboard. You need a new motherboard.
1-2-2 The motherboard is bad.
1-2-3 The motherboard is bad.
1-3-1 You'll need to replace the motherboard.
1-3-3 You'll need to replace the motherboard.
1-3-4 The motherboard is bad.
1-4-1 The motherboard is bad.
1-4-2 Some of your memory is bad.
2-_-_ Any combo of beeps after two means that some of your memory is bad, and unless you want to get real technical, you should probably have the guys in the lab coats test the memory for you. Take it to the shop.
3-1-_ One of the chips on your motherboard is broken. You'll likely need to get another board.
3-2-4 One of the chips on your motherboard that checks the keyboard is broken. You'll likely need to get another board.
3-3-4 Your computer can't find the video card. Is it there? If so, try swapping it with another one and see if it works.
3-4-_ Your video card isn't working. You'll need to replace it.
4-2-1 There's a bad chip on the motherboard. You need to buy another board.
4-2-2 First check the keyboard for problems. If nothing, you have a bad motherboard.
4-2-3 Same as 4-2-2.
4-2-4 One of the cards is bad. Try yanking out the cards one by one to isolate the culprit. Replace the bad one. The last possibility is to buy another motherboard.
4-3-1 Replace the motherboard.
4-3-2 See 4-3-1
4-3-3 See 4-3-1
4-3-4 Time of day clock failure. Try running the setup program that comes with the computer. Check the date and time. If that doesn't work, replace the battery. If that doesn't work, replace the power supply. You may have to replace the motherboard, but that is rare.
4-4-1 Your serial ports are acting up. Reseat, or replace, the I/O card. If the I/O is on the motherboard itself, disable them with a jumper (consult your manual to know which one) and then add an I/O card.
4-4-2 See 4-4-1, but this time is your Parallel port that's acting up.
4-4-3 You math coprocessor is having problems. Run a test program to double-check it. If it is indeed bad, disable it, or replace it.
Low 1-1-2 Your motherboard is having problems
Low 1-1-3 This is an Extended CMOS RAM problem, check your motherboard battery, and motherboard.

Hi -this morning the computer when I press F2 just boots up normally, no beeps at all but the three isn't working. It works after all the other numbers involuntarily, like this 132333435673833930 (that was 1-9 or 13-93)#33333 :-)# I will check for the CDs asap, the shop isn't a possibility here, I live on a very small island and at $80 hour, minimum of 2 hours and with a two-week waiting list, I can't be without a computer for so long. Thanks for your help, I'll get back to you on the beeps and cd soon.

The RAM report in the DAL scan is strange:

Memory (RAM):
PropertyValue
Bank Label DIMM 1
Capacity 268435456

Total Memory Deteced in Hardware: ~256 MB
Memory Reported to Operating System: 191MB

In other words not all of your RAM is being reported. Do you see a RAM count when you boot the machine? In the BIOS POST? Also right click My Computer then click Properties: what is the RAM listed there?

Here is a RAM test that might be worth checking out:
http://www.memtest86.com/

As to your keyboard issue here is a generally posted reply to such issues:

Lots of people have come on here with this problem, and although I haven't
had the problem myself, I am confident that it has to do with VOICE
RECOGNITION in OfficeXP. So, here is how to turn it off:
1) Open Word
2) On the Language bar, click on the microphone OR under the Tools menu,
unclick "Speech Recognition". (Not sure which one you will see).
3) If you close Word and it is reselected the next time you open any Office
application, repeat steps 1&2 and then save your Normal Template. You can
do this thru Page Setup (File>Page Setup, hit Default... and YES).
If this doesn't work, repost here.
HTH & GL

Hi, sorry I didn't get back to you yesterday. Car problems. Getting a teenager to look after my car and computer was not the best idea.

I don't have speech recognition files loaded into Word so its not that.

I tried to count the beeps on start up, but they didn't happen most of the time I booted up yesterday, when they did I twice counted more than 80 before I gave up!

The disks I found:
Application and Driver Recovery DVD
Driver Recovery CD XP SP1a
Operating System CD XP Home SP1
Operating System CD XP Home SP2 (this might be for the newer laptop which is a Presario 2200)

I'm going to dl and run the Memtest. I couldn't find the RAM in My Computer. I will look when it reboots.

Thanks, Petra

The Memtest needs to be burned to a cd or floppy and my laptop doesn't have a floppy drive and the cd burner doesn't work (never did, just ruins blanks). Set-up reports 191Mb when I boot up. I did a scan and fix errors, but it won't do it automatically because to stop the beeping (which doesn't always happen) I have to press F2 and then the scan screen says it was cancelled.

I wish I knew more.