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computer just beeps when powered on
Name: mcavoym1 Date: January 12, 2009 at 13:35:07 Pacific OS: VISTA CPU/Ram: 1G Product: Alienware / Area-51 m5550 Subcategory: General
Comment:
my computer was sitting idle. When I came back to it it was froze. I had to remove the battery to get it to shut down. When I tried to start it back up it just beeped.
I removed one memory module (then the other) to see if perhaps one of them had gone bad. I reset the CMOS according to Alienware support directions.
I assume its the motherboard or the video card but is there any way to tell? Alienware does not sell motherboards (you have to send the computer back to them - $195 parts plus $299 labor). If it happens to be the video card they just ship it back unfixed because they don't have and don't plan to get any replacement video cards. I dont really want to waste the time and postage if thats the case...
Name: jam Date: January 12, 2009 at 14:17:25 Pacific
Reply:
The beep code will give you an idea of what the problem may be. Is it a repeating single tone? repeating 1 long, 2 short tones? Describe the pattern. If it's a laptop, more than likely it overheated.
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Response Number 2
Name: mcavoym1 Date: January 12, 2009 at 14:23:10 Pacific
Reply:
Sorry - had that in my first message then lost it before it posted :S
Its just one single beep. I'm 99.9% sure it overheated.
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Response Number 3
Name: anmor Date: January 12, 2009 at 14:50:23 Pacific
Reply:
Sure sounds like overheating. Can you access bios to check the temperature. If not chances are something is fried. Going by the cost of repairs you were quoted it would be cheaper to buy a new computer, or at least a decent secondhand one.
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Response Number 4
Name: mcavoym1 Date: January 12, 2009 at 14:56:22 Pacific
Reply:
Yeah - When I get it apart and see what model the mother board is I might try to find one. Tech support said a few places sell them but he couldn't tell me what they were.
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cd/dvdrw drive
