POST beeps

[Cow Poke]

I've encountered a number of people recently (still doing computer consulting on the side) who were not aware that the POST (Power On Self Test) performed by the computer will often actually tell you what the problem is you are having with your computer.

Just today, a guy brought me a computer that he said had a bad power supply. Then he said "when it starts up, it does two short beeps then pauses then two short beeps..."

I told him "that's not power supply - it's memory. Either a memory module is bad, or is not seated properly..."

He looked surprised, so I Googled "Dell studio two short beeps" and immediately came up with the error code. (Googling is WAY faster than finding the computer's manual, which will usually have a list of codes)

Some HP (I think) computers actually have a small panel of multi-colored LEDs on the back, and the combination/order of colors tells you what the "fault" is.

The POST beep is particularly helpful when you have a bad video card, and you can't see error messages on your monitor. (Usually, if I recall, 1 long beep, 2 short beeps)

Here's one of the lists of common POST beep codes.

[One Bad Pig]

My 486 beeps at me when I turn it on 'cause the CMOS battery is dead.

[Sparko]

I usually diagnose the problem using smoke signals.

smoke coming out of the power supply = bad power supply
smoke coming off the motherboard = bad mother board.

Smoke is what makes computers work. If you let the smoke out, it stops working.

[mikewhitney]

ah. my computer needs an MDA or CGA card. Can I get one with a gig of memory?

[Cow Poke]

Some HP (I think) computers actually have a small panel of multi-colored LEDs on the back, and the combination/order of colors tells you what the "fault" is.

ah, I think that's just servers....

http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/doc/p...r_na-c01726637

[rogue06]

I posted my beeps as per the title.

Hope this helped.

[Cow Poke]

I posted my beeps as per the title.

Hope this helped.

bless your heart

[rogue06]

bless your heart

Good thing I re-read the title before posting cause the first time I coulda swore it said "post bleeps" which woulda resulted in a whole different post

[Cow Poke]

I posted my beeps as per the title.

Hope this helped.

I remember that time it took you 2 days to drive 100 miles because you kept seeing signs that said "Clean Restrooms".

[rogue06]

I remember that time it took you 2 days to drive 100 miles because you kept seeing signs that said "Clean Restrooms".

But I sure gathered an interesting collection of phone numbers

[Cow Poke]

But I sure gathered an interesting collection of phone numbers

And, um..... "poetry"

[rogue06]

And, um..... "poetry"

"Here I sit all broken-hearted..."

[Cow Poke]

"Here I sit all broken-hearted..."

That's EXACTLY the one I was hoping you wouldn't....