Hi there,

I have been having a few problems with my computer. I have just bought a new power supply as my old one stopped working.

I then thought my video card was on the way out and it was a very old one so i purchased a new Nvidia one and when i turn it on i get 2 short beeps 1 long beep and then nothing.

The computer begins to boot up, i see the packard bell screen and the start of the boot up and then the picture goes blank and the computer doesnt continue to boot!

Am i right in thinking that it is something to do with the Video Card or the RAM?

Please help as this is driving me made!

Look here for a link to the correct beepcode listing for your system and bios version:
http://bioscentral.com/

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.
Teach him to fish and his wife will never forgive you.

Was your old video card a PCI one? And your new on an AGP card? If yes to both then do the following:

Put your old one back in, go to the bios and set the boot display to AGP, then take out the old card cand put in your new one.

Hi there,

sorry to be stupid but what is a PCI one? How can i tell the difference?

I know my new one is AGP.

Is that easy to change in the BIOS? Is it just pushing F2 or something on start up?

If youre new video card plugs in the same slot on the mobo, then the old video card was AGP too.

If your old card was pluged in one of those white slots on the mobo then it was a PCI board.

It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice...

Hi there,

thanks for that, then my old one was a AGP one cos my new one fits into the same slot.

So can anybody help me on the 2 beeps then 1 beep.

I thought it might be a problem with the Video card but know i think that is ruled out.

Could it be a problem with the RAM somehow?

Did you check the beepcodes at bioscentral?
It still may be graphics card problem. Not all AGP cards are the same. If your motherboard supports only AGP2 and you put a new AGP8X card in the slot then it won't work and may damage either the board or card.

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.
Teach him to fish and his wife will never forgive you.

Hi there,

I have checked Bioscentral and i think i have got the right code area and this is what is says

Bit 0; This data bit on the first RAM IC has failed. Replace the IC if possible

What is the IC, sorry i know i am being stupid!

Does this mean one of my RAM is faulty?

I think IC stands for integrated circuit and unless ure an electronic engineer it means you need new RAM. If there are two sticks of RAM try them one at a time.

But are you sure about that beep code. the inverse ie. "1 long and 2 short" is usually a video problem. Check compatibility like Richard59 suggested.look up your MOBO on the web and make sure the AGP slot is fast enough for your new card.

What made you decide your video card was on the way out in the first place? If it still works ok try putting the old one back in. Make sure it is properly seated.