My computer beeps every 4 seconds

[BradinSanDiego]

I have a start up and beeping issue.  Here's what I have:  AMD processor, ECS motherboard, Maxtor ATA 300GB HD and Nvidia GeForce 6100 that came with the motherboard.  I'm not sure of the brand of RAM. 

I built the thing about a yr ago and it worked great up to now.  Last week it wouldn't even power up.  So I changed the power supply and now it starts but all I get is a 2 second beep that comes every 4 seconds and nothing on the monitor.

Any ideas??     

[patio]

Try re-seating both the RAM and the vid card...

[BradinSanDiego]

Thanks.  I did and now the beeping stopped but the HD isn't engaging - I think all that's running is the CPU fan.  The monitor is not showing anything.

[kbm292]

Do you have another video card you could try?  Also it seems as though your power supply may have crapped out on you again.  You should test that as well.

[BradinSanDiego]

I do have another video card I could try.  It's an ATI that's about 3 years old.  The old video card was built in to the motherboard.  Will the system recognize the new one if I haven't told it to use the new one?

[kbm292]

If you plug the card in and plug the monitor into it then it should recognize it and install any drivers that it will need.

[RankenTech]

take all the memory sticks out of your computer and turn it on. if it gives the same beep error, it's most likely memory. do you have any other known good ram modules you could try in it?

[BradinSanDiego]

Thanks.  I did that earlier and it still beeps the same.  I guess it's the memory.  I will make sure by installing one of 2 sticks in my other pc and see if that fixes the problem.

[8bamboos]

  pleased read this
Computer Error Diagnostic Beeps

NO BEEPS              Short, No Power,Bad CPU/MB.Loose Peripherals
 1 SHORTBEEP              Everything is normal And computer Posted fine
2 SHORT BEEPS           Post /CMOS Error
1 LONG BEEP,1 SHORT BEEP          Motherboard Problem
1 LONG BEEP, 2 SHORT BEEPS      Video Problem
1 LONG BEEP,  3 SHORT BEEPS              Graphic Problem
3 LONG BEEPS           Keybord Error
REPEATED LONG BEEPS                   Memory error
CONTINOUS HI-LO BEEPS                   CPU Overheating