I'm trying to help fix my little sister's computer before our parents ask one of our tech-savvy friends for help. The PC was making 3 short beeps and 1 long beep, but after cleaning out some dust, it's now only making 2 short beeps. Does anyone know what those 2 short beeps indicate?
I've also noticed a small cylinder symbol near the power button that usually isn't lit, but now it's flashing red without any clear pattern. The computer won't show anything on the monitor, and it seems like it's not trying to connect to it. The computer is quite outdated as it's a hand-me-down I got in 2019; its specs are: PS-A55/550W power supply, a 1060 GeForce Gigabyte GPU, and 16 GB of RAM. I'm not sure about the other specs. Any help would be really appreciated to avoid bugging our family friend! Thanks!
3 Answers
It's important to find out if this computer is a store-bought model or custom built. If it's from a store, knowing the brand and model will help in identifying beep and light codes. The flashing red light might indicate problems with your hard drive, especially if the RAM isn't making proper contact.
Absolutely! And if problems persist, maybe check the power supply too. Sometimes, a faulty power supply can lead to these symptoms.
The beep codes can differ by motherboard, but generally, the 2 short beeps usually point to a RAM issue. It might be a good idea to reseat your RAM sticks; just pull them out and push them back in firmly until you hear a click.
As for the cylinder light, that's typically the HDD activity light. The red flashing indicates it's trying to access the hard drive but is likely failing due to the RAM issue. Fixing the RAM should help with both problems!
The 1 long and 3 short beeps usually indicate a memory failure. Since you're hearing 2 short beeps now, that's commonly associated with a parity circuit failure, which could signal a motherboard issue.
Also, that cylinder symbol you mentioned is probably for HDD activity, and if it's flashing red, that might suggest a bad drive or other storage issue. Checking the motherboard manual could be really helpful to interpret those codes!
Yeah, and even if it's custom built, you can often find the manual online. I'd also suggest checking all the connections and making sure everything is seated properly!