GA-8KNXP (Rev. 2)-Based Computer: Multiple Beeps on >Cold<..

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.gigabyte (More info?)

I have had a computer built around this board almost two years with no
real issues.
Since it has gotten cold (~58°C at night in the house) this winter, I
have had multiple incidents where the computer will not even go through
the BIOS level start up. As soon as I turn on the machine, I get a
series of multiple beeps, then a brief silence, then multiple beeps,
silence, and then continuous beeps. The computer then does not boot.
When the air temperature is again above ~62°C, the computer will boot
and run just fine.


Is this expected behavior or is something going wrong (other than
letting the indoor temperature fall so far).
Thanks for your input.


Steve

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.gigabyte (More info?)

Richard, thanks for the response.

The beeping is not like any that I have heard or seen described in
either the manual or in other sources.
It is a series of very short sounds, too numerous to count, each burst
lasting 5 or so seconds.

You're right - - very wierd.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.gigabyte (More info?)

<sgoldstn@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:1106580803.067698.178110@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...

> I have had a computer built around this board almost two years with no
> real issues. Since it has gotten cold (~58°C at night in the house) this
> winter, I have had multiple incidents where the computer will not even go
> > through the BIOS level start up. As soon as I turn on the machine, I get
> a
> series of multiple beeps, then a brief silence, then multiple beeps,
> silence, and then continuous beeps. The computer then does not boot.
> When the air temperature is again above ~62°C, the computer will boot
> and run just fine.

> Is this expected behavior or is something going wrong (other than
> letting the indoor temperature fall so far).

I have a Rev. 1 of this same board, and on one occasion this Fall when I
left the windows open one cool, humid night the POST failed the next
morning--except in my case I had no beeps and the PSU clicked as if trying
to reset. The temp never dropped below 68°F in the room, but the humidity
that morning was >95%, and that exceeds the spec on the PSU.

After I warmed everything up with a hair drier it booted fine and has ever
since, regardless of temperature, but I no longer open the windows to the
office overnight. This may not be your issue, and if your house is heated
the humidity is probably much lower than the maximum spec for the mobo or
PSU, unless you're opening the windows.

OTOH, you may have some component that is contracting in the cold enough to
cause a poor connection. If that is the case, I doubt if it is something
you could troubleshoot. You might try reseating the CPU, memory, and cards
just for the heck of it, but I doubt if that will change anything.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.gigabyte (More info?)

<sgoldstn@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:1106588323.414637.99540@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...

> Richard, thanks for the response.
>
> The beeping is not like any that I have heard or seen described in
> either the manual or in other sources.
> It is a series of very short sounds, too numerous to count, each burst
> lasting 5 or so seconds.

I just posted on this thread just moments ago, but the more I think of it
the more I'd recommend reseating everything, including PCI and AGP cards,
memory, and if that doesn't help maybe even the CPU.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.gigabyte (More info?)

> Is this expected behavior or is something going wrong (other than
> letting the indoor temperature fall so far).


Weird.

1) As someone else mentioned, check the manual (for the meaning of the
beeps).

2) Once your machine is "warm enough" to boot, I'd recommend running
memtest86 ...


Kris

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.gigabyte (More info?)

Thanks to all for the responses.

Perhaps the best sense is that with some change in temperature, a
poorly contacting component is no longer seated adequately. I may have
done a test of the principle already. I have another computer in the
same room (ASUS P4PE motherboard) that would not boot the day before.
This machine went through POST but did not find my hard drive (primary
IDE/master) to start the OS. I opened the case and repositioned
eveything I could and, voila, the HD was autotyped by the BIOS and
everything booted just fine. Will try the same gambit on the Gigabyte
machine tonight.


Bob Davis wrote:
> <sgoldstn@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
> news:1106580803.067698.178110@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>
> > I have had a computer built around this board almost two years with
no
> > real issues. Since it has gotten cold (~58°C at night in the
house) this
> > winter, I have had multiple incidents where the computer will not
even go
> > > through the BIOS level start up. As soon as I turn on the
machine, I get
> > a
> > series of multiple beeps, then a brief silence, then multiple
beeps,
> > silence, and then continuous beeps. The computer then does not
boot.
> > When the air temperature is again above ~62°C, the computer will
boot
> > and run just fine.
>
> > Is this expected behavior or is something going wrong (other than
> > letting the indoor temperature fall so far).
>
> I have a Rev. 1 of this same board, and on one occasion this Fall
when I
> left the windows open one cool, humid night the POST failed the next
> morning--except in my case I had no beeps and the PSU clicked as if
trying
> to reset. The temp never dropped below 68°F in the room, but the
humidity
> that morning was >95%, and that exceeds the spec on the PSU.
>
> After I warmed everything up with a hair drier it booted fine and has
ever
> since, regardless of temperature, but I no longer open the windows to
the
> office overnight. This may not be your issue, and if your house is
heated
> the humidity is probably much lower than the maximum spec for the
mobo or
> PSU, unless you're opening the windows.
>
> OTOH, you may have some component that is contracting in the cold
enough to
> cause a poor connection. If that is the case, I doubt if it is
something
> you could troubleshoot. You might try reseating the CPU, memory, and
cards
> just for the heck of it, but I doubt if that will change anything.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.gigabyte (More info?)

Very weird i must say, have the same mobo.
Look at the manual...it explains what those BIOS beeps are.


<sgoldstn@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:1106580803.067698.178110@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
I have had a computer built around this board almost two years with no
real issues.
Since it has gotten cold (~58°C at night in the house) this winter, I
have had multiple incidents where the computer will not even go through
the BIOS level start up. As soon as I turn on the machine, I get a
series of multiple beeps, then a brief silence, then multiple beeps,
silence, and then continuous beeps. The computer then does not boot.
When the air temperature is again above ~62°C, the computer will boot
and run just fine.


Is this expected behavior or is something going wrong (other than
letting the indoor temperature fall so far).
Thanks for your input.


Steve

 

[steve]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.gigabyte (More info?)

Dust - Dust - Dust

Opened this floor standing tower case, and everything was coated.
Took a brush and a vacuum to it, reseated the boards and all connectors.
-- The moment of truth was brief as the machine started right up.

Thanks to all for the suggestions.

sgoldstn@ix.netcom.com wrote:
> Thanks to all for the responses.
>
> Perhaps the best sense is that with some change in temperature, a
> poorly contacting component is no longer seated adequately. I may have
> done a test of the principle already. I have another computer in the
> same room (ASUS P4PE motherboard) that would not boot the day before.
> This machine went through POST but did not find my hard drive (primary
> IDE/master) to start the OS. I opened the case and repositioned
> eveything I could and, voila, the HD was autotyped by the BIOS and
> everything booted just fine. Will try the same gambit on the Gigabyte
> machine tonight.
>
>
> Bob Davis wrote:
>
>><sgoldstn@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
>>news:1106580803.067698.178110@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>>
>>
>>>I have had a computer built around this board almost two years with
>
> no
>
>>>real issues. Since it has gotten cold (~58°C at night in the
>
> house) this
>
>>>winter, I have had multiple incidents where the computer will not
>
> even go
>
>>> > through the BIOS level start up. As soon as I turn on the
>
> machine, I get
>
>>>a
>>>series of multiple beeps, then a brief silence, then multiple
>
> beeps,
>
>>>silence, and then continuous beeps. The computer then does not
>
> boot.
>
>>>When the air temperature is again above ~62°C, the computer will
>
> boot
>
>>>and run just fine.
>>
>>>Is this expected behavior or is something going wrong (other than
>>>letting the indoor temperature fall so far).
>>
>>I have a Rev. 1 of this same board, and on one occasion this Fall
>
> when I
>
>>left the windows open one cool, humid night the POST failed the next
>>morning--except in my case I had no beeps and the PSU clicked as if
>
> trying
>
>>to reset. The temp never dropped below 68°F in the room, but the
>
> humidity
>
>>that morning was >95%, and that exceeds the spec on the PSU.
>>
>>After I warmed everything up with a hair drier it booted fine and has
>
> ever
>
>>since, regardless of temperature, but I no longer open the windows to
>
> the
>
>>office overnight. This may not be your issue, and if your house is
>
> heated
>
>>the humidity is probably much lower than the maximum spec for the
>
> mobo or
>
>>PSU, unless you're opening the windows.
>>
>>OTOH, you may have some component that is contracting in the cold
>
> enough to
>
>>cause a poor connection. If that is the case, I doubt if it is
>
> something
>
>>you could troubleshoot. You might try reseating the CPU, memory, and
>
> cards
>
>>just for the heck of it, but I doubt if that will change anything.
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.gigabyte (More info?)

I should have been clearer. I did use a fine brush to loosen the dirt
while holding the vacuum's nozzle above the computer parts.
But point well taken for future cleaning. I'll blow off the dust in
the future.

Steve

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.gigabyte (More info?)

The correct solution is to use a special antistatic vacuum cleaner,
such as 3M's. They are sold through electronic tool catalogs such as
Jensen Tools (no relation). They are expensive but worth it. They also
have superfine filters that even vacuum laser printer toner.
--
Doug Jensen, jensen@real-time.org

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.gigabyte (More info?)

The group's discussion of proper cleaning technique has been helpful,
but can anyone explain why dust can cause electrical problems with the
system's components. As well, either by their nature or design are
there particular components in a typical computer that are more
vulnerable to dust related electrical problems?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.gigabyte (More info?)

On 26 Jan 2005 09:01:53 -0800, sgoldstn@ix.netcom.com wrote:

>The group's discussion of proper cleaning technique has been helpful,
>but can anyone explain why dust can cause electrical problems with the
>system's components. As well, either by their nature or design are
>there particular components in a typical computer that are more
>vulnerable to dust related electrical problems?


Well this is quite variable to say the least. We had an old 486
machine on the factory floor where thermoset plastics were molded
(lots of dust) When I removed the cover to check the machine out (note
it was working fine) I found a layer of dust some 50mm think covering
everything inside I left well alone and as far as I know the machine
is still working some 2 years later.

Maybe old machines are just more tolerant.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.gigabyte (More info?)

Dust can kill all hardware, why do engineers wair dust protection when they
are building a sattelite for example, same reason? Dust partikels are that
large that they can contain Iron (Fe) molecules. One dust partikel isn't
probably going to hurt your hardware but once the dust deposites get bigger
and bigger they will be able to make contact at some point, resulting in
short cuts.

This is why you should clean all hardware!!

Each year thousands of people get killed because there TV screen implodes,
same reason, hardware never gets cleaned and becomes a deadly bomb waiting
to go off at some time.

Greetz

Barabas


<sgoldstn@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:1106758913.088999.297350@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
The group's discussion of proper cleaning technique has been helpful,
but can anyone explain why dust can cause electrical problems with the
system's components. As well, either by their nature or design are
there particular components in a typical computer that are more
vulnerable to dust related electrical problems?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.gigabyte (More info?)

I HAVE TWO OF THESE MOTHERBOARDS FOR OVER A YEAR AND THEY BOTH MAKE
THE SAME BEEPS YOU MENTION. I HAVE HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH
THEM.

 

[steve]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.gigabyte (More info?)

GARYPET wrote:
> I HAVE TWO OF THESE MOTHERBOARDS FOR OVER A YEAR AND THEY BOTH MAKE
> THE SAME BEEPS YOU MENTION. I HAVE HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH
> THEM.
>
Maybe not the same beeps. When my computer got going (before I cleaned
it out), it would just start the stacatto beeping and would never boot.

 

[NickM]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.gigabyte (More info?)

"Barabas" <Barabas@pandora.be> wrote in message
news:a5fKd.6810$OE6.624853@phobos.telenet-ops.be...
> Dust can kill all hardware, why do engineers wair dust protection when
> they are building a sattelite for example, same reason? Dust partikels are
> that large that they can contain Iron (Fe) molecules. One dust partikel
> isn't probably going to hurt your hardware but once the dust deposites get
> bigger and bigger they will be able to make contact at some point,
> resulting in short cuts.
>
> This is why you should clean all hardware!!
>
> Each year thousands of people get killed because there TV screen implodes,
> same reason, hardware never gets cleaned and becomes a deadly bomb waiting
> to go off at some time.
>
> Greetz
>
> Barabas
>
>
> <sgoldstn@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
> news:1106758913.088999.297350@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> The group's discussion of proper cleaning technique has been helpful,
> but can anyone explain why dust can cause electrical problems with the
> system's components. As well, either by their nature or design are
> there particular components in a typical computer that are more
> vulnerable to dust related electrical problems?
>

Depends on what the 'dust' actually is. Most household dust is dead human
skin cells, but in certain environments dust may be from a completely
different source and it's possible the dust could be from a conductive
material.