Computer problem - help!

[Marcantilan]

Hi,
Yesterday my computer started a strange behaviour. Shortly after windows loaded (when I opened the Internet Explorer), the computer just blacked out.
And, from the motherboard, started continuous beeps.

The computer didn´t reset (didn´t respond to the button) but the fans kept spinning.

I switched off and the (a minute later) on the computer, then loaded windows again. But shortly after, starting a problem, again frozes, blacked out and the beeps.

Then again, and again. Just minutes after windows loaded normally.

Notes: The disks seemed to "park" just after the froze. The fans kept spinning. The core and MB temperatura was no higher than 40º before and after the event. The MB is an Asrock K8 Upgrade and the CPU a Sempron 2800+ 64 bits (2 years old).

What do you think about it? What´s happening: faulty memory, CPU, PSU, motherboard, software related?

Your opinions? Thanks in advance!

[SUBMAN1]

PSU. It doesn't have enough power to keep the system running. That would be my first idea.

Next idea would be a fan not properly mounted and a component slowly heating up, such as the CPU fan. SOmetimes the heat sink compound hardens and doesn't work anymore. Try Artic Silver - it is synthetic and will never harden.

-S

[Marcantilan]

Thanks subman!

Are the beeps common long after POST?

[SUBMAN1]

Thanks subman!

Are the beeps common long after POST?THey are if your CPU overheats. Its your motherboard probably that is shutting it off and sounding the alarm. This temp is set in your BIOS, and it should be set to your max CPU temp so that you don't fry it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007

http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggImage/ProductImageCompressAll200/35-100-007-01.JPG

Use that stuff. Works for the life of the computer. It also has silver compound for better heat transfer and will actually lower your CPU temps by a degree or two just by using this over that normal white garbage.

-S

[FIREWALL]

While SUBMAN 1 made some good points with the limited info you posted. More info would help.

How old is your rig ?
How big is your PS ?
Did you or outside source install CPU and was compound used?

These are just a few questions to start.

The more info you give the many talented members here, the better chance you have of a fix at little or no cost.

We will try to help. :D

[Marcantilan]

Thanks Firewall & Subman! :up:

Firstly, the rig is mainly 2 years old, but the case & PSU are 4 years old (yeah, my wife thinks I broke the thing on purpose just to replace it)

PSU: 400 watts (powering CPU, Mobo, a SATA HDD, IDE HDD, DVD and CD rom and ATI x1600pro AGP)

I installed the CPU, and I used a compound (don´t remeber which one)

It runned flawessly until yesterday.

[Graf Paper]

The beeps are actually a fault code issued by your BIOS to alert you to the general area of the problem.

Who makes your BIOS? Is it Phoenix BIOS, AmiBIOS, etc.?
How many beeps is it and in what pattern are they? For example, in Phoenix BIOS, 3 beeps followed by 1 beep and the 1 more beep indicates a possible problem with your secondary drive.

Here's a link to a webpage that has tables for the beep codes used by the various manufacturers....

http://www.amptron.com/html/bios.beepcodes.html

Hope it helps you! :up:

[Marcantilan]

Well, I bought a new PSU, I reseated the memories and cleaned a bit the case.

So far, four hours without a problem.

I hope the problem is solved.

Subman, Firewall and Graf, a big thanks! :up:

[SUBMAN1]

You're welcome.

[Graf Paper]

What Subman said. ;)

Hope you have many more hours/days/weeks/months/years of trouble-free hardware! :yep: