OT: Massive computer problem, help appreciated
 

As the title suggests, my computer is out of commission, and I have no idea how to fix it. Here's a detailed account of what happened:

1. I was playing an online game last night, when the game froze. Exitted the game, tryed to restart, didn't work. Restarted the computer.

2. Attempted to re-enter the game once more, after the restart. Everything was good...for about 5 seconds, then it kicks me off again. Restart the computer again.

3. After the restart, I try to connect to the internet. Now I can't even do that, as it says the modem is "already in use" or some such thing. This has happened before on occasion, a restart has almost always fixed it. So I restart...again. At this point, during the shutdown process, Windows hangs up at the "Shutting down Windows" phase. I have to use the power button to kill it.

4. Restart, try to connect to the internet, same message as before. This problem has only occurred twice in a row once before, but, again, a restart has always fixed it. So, I restart *again*. Same issue as before, Windows hangs up at "Shutting down Windows", and I have to use the power button to shut it down. For reference, when I do this, it usually takes a good 4-5 seconds of holding down the power button for it to shut down windows; this is the norm.

5. I try to restart the computer, but almost as soon as I restart, I hear an abnormal, long beep noise. Lasts probably 1-2 seconds. Now there is absolutely no output to the monitor whatsoever. So, I give it a while, to complete the boot-up, since I know that if you kill it during bootup...bad things can happen. So, after a bit, I kill it, again.

6. Restart again, exact same thing as step 5 occurs, and has occurred ever since. Now when killing it with the power button, I only have to just touch the power button and it shuts down, unlike before when you have to hold it for a while.

7. Switched video cards with an old one I have lying around and that didn't do anything. Switched monitors, and that didn't do anything.


So basically, I've eliminated video card and monitor as sources of the problem, but then again, with all the other issues that occurred just before, I didn't think that was the problem anyways http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif At this point, I'm thinking either a dead motherboard or a particularly nasty virus.

What do you guys think? Any input whatsoever would be very appreciated. I doubt I can fix it on my own, but since its the weekend, I'll have to wait before I can take it anywhere to get fixed anyways http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Re: OT: Massive computer problem, help appreciated
 

It sounds to me like at least one component on the board, or the board itself (unlikely) went bad. That long beep is a BIOS Error code. Different motherboards have different codes, however, so I can't say for certain what the error was.

Can you tell me anything about the motherboard?

Re: OT: Massive computer problem, help appreciated
 

The MB is a Biostar NF4ST-A9, as far as I can tell. It's worth mentioning that the long beep only occured the one time, and does not occur anymore upon starting the computer.

Re: OT: Massive computer problem, help appreciated
 

I wouldn't suspect a virus; boot sector viruses are extremely rare, and any virus in windows would not prevent the BIOS from outputting to the video frame buffer in the bootup process.

Re: OT: Massive computer problem, help appreciated
 

Hmm... the beep codes for AWARD motherboards (which a biostar is) are quite varied, so I can't find what that exact code might mean, but it should be happening every time.

You should taking your RAM out, then putting it back in. Sometimes major errors like this occur just because the RAM is slightly out of place.

Re: OT: Massive computer problem, help appreciated
 

It's memory I betcha.

I had the same problem with my dads computer. It turns out that the long beep sound was in fact the memory having gone bad. Either reseat the memory like it was suggested, or if that doesn't work, see if the RAM works in another computer. If it doesn't... yup, memory is bad.

Re: OT: Massive computer problem, help appreciated
 

I shall try reseating the RAM, and if that doesn't work, I'll remove some of the RAM and put it in another computer, to see if it's still good. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

Re: OT: Massive computer problem, help appreciated
 

Reseating the RAM met with no success. I was unable to check the RAM in another computer however, so that possibility still exists, though I have reason to doubt it.

I have 2 Gigs of RAM (4x512Mb), 1 Gig came with the computer, the other I purchased separately and installed at a later date. I removed the extra gig that I installed at a later date, and tried again; no success. I then swapped the groups, putting in the stuff I bought later and the stuff that came with the computer; the result was the same. It seems unlikely that more than one segment of 512 would go simultaneously, doesn't it?

Re: OT: Massive computer problem, help appreciated
 

Ren have you tried pulling or uninstalling your lan or modem then do a restart? After the restart does your system detect and then re-install those devices?

Re: OT: Massive computer problem, help appreciated
 

When this happened to me it was bad RAM, Video Card, Sound Card, and bad HD. As you can see it has happened many times. Hell even once it was a bad key board.

Re: OT: Massive computer problem, help appreciated
 

I tried pulling the modem last night and restarting, with no apparent effect http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

It seems I have inherited your luck with computers Atrocities!

Re: OT: Massive computer problem, help appreciated
 

I think you can say you've inherited AT's bad luck when your hard drive implodes, your screen becomes a gateway to Hell, your motherboard melts and your mouse commits suicide, at the same time.

Re: OT: Massive computer problem, help appreciated
 

You forget about the water leak, the rats, and of course the power surge incidents. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Ren you will figure it out. It has to be something simple. I would just pull everything except the video card and see what happens. Add one part back at a time. Take your ram in and have it tested. Good luck. If it matters to you, you don't have my bad luck, to get that you would really need to p*** God off.

Re: OT: Massive computer problem, help appreciated
 

Well, previous to this current issue, my hard drive has thrown in the towel and my motherboard has fried itself, but I agree, I haven't reached AT's level yet! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...ies/tongue.gif

Good news! The problem has been identified and resolved.

I brought it into Future Shop, and they fixed it for me, since I couldn't solve it. Turns out the video card was fried, even though I was sure it wasn't. When the card fried itself, it also shorted out the motherboard, with the result of screwing up most of the drivers (or so thye said). So I ended up dropping some cash on a new, shiny video card, and fixed the drivers, so everything appears to be fixed, for now http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

Re: OT: Massive computer problem, help appreciated
 

Hot damn, isn't it such a great feeling when you fix those problems? er.. correction.. when it *looks like* you've fixed them http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Correct me if I'm wrong, doesn't the error code beep's significance depend on what BIOS version you're running?