Hardware failure with strange sound coming from the PC

[lino124]

Hello everyone!

Computer description
Model: VECTRA VL 420 MT
PROD : P6200W#ABA
OS: Windows XP

This computer stopped working, when plug the power cable the front panel light comes on without me hitting the power button.

After that there is a short display on the screen as if it is starting then it disappears, the PC makes a very strange sound for sometime, when that strange sound is gone, and then it beeps two times.

I tried changing power supply but the problem continues, I unplugged all devices except for the CPU and power supply, I turned it on the same noise persists, it starts with a very strange long noise, when that noise is over it beeps two times. I tried removing the BIOS Battery, still no success.

Can someone please help?


[attachment deleted by admin]

[lino124]

I forgot to mention, i have attached a Zipped MP3 file, please open it and listen to the strange sound, perhaps that can give a clue of whats i'm trying to say and Shaw as what is wrong.

Any help is welcomed

[Karnac]

Have a good look at your motherboard and check for any capacitors that are bulging on top or split or leaking ..........The capacitors are about a 1/2 inch high and have an + on top of them.....also make sure that your processor is firmly in place.

[kizza1645]

Usually that only happens with permanent, critical component damage, whereas the mainboard is still able to detect it.....

[lino124]

Thanks guys for the quick response.

Karnac, i did just as suggested by you, checked for any capacitors that are bulging on top or split or leaking, it seems like non of them is faulty they are just clean as new. I also also made sure that the processor is firmly in place, the problem still persists with that annoying sound.

 kizza1645 thanks for your suggestion, according to you this only happens with permanent, critical component damage  and the main board is still able to detect it, if the main board is able to do so, then how can as well trace.

I made some research on the 2 beep sound i discovered that it as to do with the power supply being in protected mode and to solve the issue it must be reseted by unplugging it and then pressing the power button wait about for an half hour and plug it back, well i did just that in fact i left it for an hour, still no solution, also if that was the case it should have worked when i changed the power supply like i said in my first post. By the way the second power  supply is working just fine cause i took it from a working machine.

Guys please don't give like i said any suggestion is welcomed and thanks to does that passed by just to check this post.

Please help

[kizza1645]

Thanks guys for the quick response.

Karnac, i did just as suggested by you, checked for any capacitors that are bulging on top or split or leaking, it seems like non of them is faulty they are just clean as new. I also also made sure that the processor is firmly in place, the problem still persists with that annoying sound.

 kizza1645 thanks for your suggestion, according to you this only happens with permanent, critical component damage  and the main board is still able to detect it, if the main board is able to do so, then how can as well trace.

I made some research on the 2 beep sound i discovered that it as to do with the power supply being in protected mode and to solve the issue it must be reseted by unplugging it and then pressing the power button wait about for an half hour and plug it back, well i did just that in fact i left it for an hour, still no solution, also if that was the case it should have worked when i changed the power supply like i said in my first post. By the way the second power  supply is working just fine cause i took it from a working machine.

Guys please don't give like i said any suggestion is welcomed and thanks to does that passed by just to check this post.

Please help

thats what im saying, the mainboard is able to detect it, so obviously its not a very serious problem as you may think

[lino124]

Thanks kizza1645,

Any suggestion of what precisely might be wrong, since i have detached almost all of the components from the main board and that includes the USB cable for the front panel, the only reaming components is the CPU and the power supply cables, I'm gonna change the CPU and see what happens. Then will post back

Also note that, when i plug the power cable to the power supply the front panel light and the mother board light goes on without me even pressing the power button i find this a bit strange especial for the front panel light, after that the CPU fun runs for about 10 to 15 seconds then it stops running and then comes the annoying sound. Any thought on this?   

[kizza1645]

Thanks kizza1645,

Any suggestion of what precisely might be wrong, since i have detached almost all of the components from the main board and that includes the USB cable for the front panel, the only reaming components is the CPU and the power supply cables, I'm gonna change the CPU and see what happens. Then will post back

Also note that, when i plug the power cable to the power supply the front panel light and the mother board light goes on without me even pressing the power button i find this a bit strange especial for the front panel light, after that the CPU fun runs for about 10 to 15 seconds then it stops running and then comes the annoying sound. Any thought on this?   

I get that, its just excess power in the power supply, i know it sounds farfeched, but its true some psu's retain a small ammount of power....

[kuszmania9999]

Have a good look at your motherboard and check for any capacitors that are bulging on top or split or leaking ..........The capacitors are about a 1/2 inch high and have an + on top of them.....also make sure that your processor is firmly in place.

The best way to know wheter you have a fail / not motherboard just remove the RAM, if there is any beep, that mean the motherboard in a good condition.

Now, try to remove your RAM and clean it with an eraser, try to clean up the shinny part the one that you attach to the RAM SLOT.

Then try again.

If the sound still happened, remove / remove & install back any PCI, NIC,VGA CARD or etc..Try without them/after installed back.

[kizza1645]

The best way to know wheter you have a fail / not motherboard just remove the RAM, if there is any beep, that mean the motherboard in a good condition.

Now, try to remove your RAM and clean it with an eraser, try to clean up the shinny part the one that you attach to the RAM SLOT.

Then try again.

If the sound still happened, remove / remove & install back any PCI, NIC,VGA CARD or etc..Try without them/after installed back.

I'd be careful doing that, the gold coated connectors are extremely volatile to physical attention, damaging one can destroy your ram....

[kuszmania9999]

yes,you need to be extremely carefull, but using eraser are most easy method and lots of technician doing that even me.

http://www.technospot.net/blogs/how-to-keep-your-old-pc-running-smooth-2/

[squall_01]

i dont recommen doing that as it will leave shavings threw out it.  However, rubber is nonconductive.  what you can get is deox it that is a spray cleaner.  The only thing is that I think you have serious issues with the motherboard as mentioned and it would just be easier to get it replaced.

[Dias de verano]

clean it with an eraser

Hard eraser, not soft, to avoid rubber dust, and rub very gently.

[Karnac]

Just a flyer here..............can you swap the power cord from the wall to the back of the computer............plug it directly into the wall.........bypass the surge protector if you are using one.......just eliminating issues.......power button switch on front of machine can be another problem area especially with your initial description of the problem......

Unplug the power switch leads.
Connect the meter leads to the switch leads.
Push the button.
When the button is pressed, the meter should read close to zero ohms.
With the button not pressed, the meter should read an open.


http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SupportTaskIndex.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&taskId=110&prodSeriesId=32853&prodTypeId=12454&supportTaskId=22364

[lino124]

Hello everyone!

Thanks so much for all your help and suggestive support,
Here is what happened prior to the PC stop working

I spoke to the owner and he said that, there was no electricity in the house so he decided
to unplug it from the wall. Next morning when he the electricity was established he plugged
it and he hard a burst and a small from the back of the PC.

I checked the power supply voltage, it was set to 115v, instead of 230v. We got another power supply set at 230v and connected it, the motherboard and the front panel lights goes on, but the strange tone followed by the two beeps continues.

My question is: is there any possibility that damage that affected the power supply could have affected the motherboard as well?
Thanks!