4 times beep and no screen on monitor

[sartre4]

I have pent III HP pavilion desktop and upgraded it to Win XP and had sound problems and ethernet drive problems. I insisted on these drivers to upgrade. Then, I opened the computer and cleaned it and took the RAMs (3) (256) out and reinstalled them. Then I booted it but it gives 4 times BEEP and no monitor screen...

If anyone offers a solution that could solve it, it is higly appreciated it !

Thank you for your interest

Sartre4

[Whyzman]

Welcome tohttp://www.pcguide.com/ubb/pcgubb.gif Forums!

It would be wise to determine if there are any compatibility issues with the old hardware and WinXP...most should have drivers that work..but you never know.

It is a well accepted position that an upgrade install is not really the way to go. It has been our experience here that upgrades are usually fraught with problems.

Even though you may have your hands on an upgrade version of Windows, you can still do a fresh install...you just need to verify ownership of a previous Windows version when asked to do so... A clean install is really the way to go...back up all data beforehand that you don't want to lose...

[Whyzman]

Here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314062

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/295322/

[Sylvander]

The reason there is no display on the monitor is because the BIOS's POST has failed to complete successfully [completion would be indicated by a single short beep].
The video card is only enabled very near the end of the POST after the successful testing of RAM, and probably just before the single beep.

What's happening in your case is that some POST test is failing before the enabling of video, and the POST is generating the 4 beeps to indicate the particular test that has failed.

HERE (http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm) are a list of beep codes.
What make is your BIOS?

Since your PC's POST never completes, there is no attempt made by the BIOS to load an OS from any drive, hence WinXP [or any other OS] is irrelevant to your problem at this stage...may be significant AFTER the PC is able to complete the POST and load an OS.

Are the RAM modules all well seated?
You might try removing all but the 1st module [with the PC switched off].

Usual troubleshooting step is to do a "bare-bones boot" [only minimum essential hardware connected] to see if POST will complete.
Absolute minimum hardware would be...
1. Motherboard out of the case on a non-conducting surface [only needed if you suspect a short to the case].
2. PSU, mobo, CPU+fan [no on-switch, RAM, video card].
This should result in beeps from the POST because of RAM test failure.
Would show that POST was running.
You don't need to ommit RAM and video because you know POST is running [the 4 beeps].
But if you did ommit them and got 4 beeps that would indicate the 4 beeps are for RAM test failure.

[Whyzman]

Indeed, Sylvander is correct in his assessment that not making it through POST tells us there's a problem before Windows gets into the act...

Follow his troubleshooting guide. You cleaned the inside, so first make sure that all connections are secure. Reseat the RAM and Video card (if not onboard) a few times just in case there's been some oxidation on the contacts over time...

Once you get through POST, then we'll deal with Windows compatibility...if a problem arises... ;)