K7S8X pos mainboard

[Jabo]

OK, here's an interesting one, I'm looking at a PC problem for a friend of mine - it's a 'bitsa' PC I built for him a while back (about 3 years ago) and it's now throwing up a slight problem - it won't POST. AFAIK the hardware in it is exactly as it was when I put it together, but now when it's switched on it just beeps - 3 times then an 8 sec pause and then 3 more beeps (repeats until bored). Does anyone have a list of the BIOS beep codes for the ASROCK K78SX which might help me to diagnose the fault?

TIA

Jabo

[Rattler]

Might it just be an on-board battery failure? I'd check that first.

[Rattler]

Try this, mate:

AMIBIOS Beep Codes

Except for beep code #8, these codes are always fatal.

· 1 beep Refresh failure

· 2 beeps Parity error

· 3 beeps Base 64K memory failure

· 4 beeps Timer not operational

· 5 beeps Processor error

· 6 beeps 8042 - gate A20 failure

· 7 beeps Processor exception interrupt error

· 8 beeps Display memory read/write failure

· 9 beeps ROM checksum error

· 10 beeps CMOS shutdown register read/write error

· 11 beeps Cache memory bad

· For 1 beep, 2 beeps, or 3 beeps try reseating the memory first. If the error still occurs, replace the

memory with known good chips.

· For 4 beeps, 5 beeps, 7 beeps, or 10 beeps the system board must be sent in for repair.

· For 6 beeps try reseating the keyboard controller chip. If the error still occurs, replace the keyboard chip.

If the error persists, check parts of the system relating to the keyboard, e.g. try another keyboard, check

to see if the system has a keyboard fuse.

· 8 beeps indicate a memory error on the video adapter. Replace the video card or the memory on the

video card.

· 9 beeps indicate faulty BIOS chip(s). It is not likely that this error can be corrected by reseating the

chips. Consult the motherboard supplier or an AMI product distributor for replacement part(s).

· If no beeps are heard and no display is on the screen, The first thing to check is the power supply.

Connect an LED to the POWER LED connection on the motherboard. If this LED lights and the drive(s)

spin up then the power supply will usually be good.

· Next, inspect the motherboard for loose components. A loose or missing CPU, BIOS chip, Crystal

Oscillator, or Chipset chip will cause the motherboard not to function.

· Next, eliminate the possibility of interference by a bad or improperly set up I/O card by removing all card

except the video adapter. The system should at least power up and wait for a drive time-out. Insert the

cards back into the system one at a time until the problem happens again. When the system does

nothing, the problem will be with the last expansion card that was put in.

· If the above suggestions fail to cause any change in the disfunction of the system, the motherboard

must be returned for repair.

[Friar]

I think I have cured such a problem by taking out and re-seating the memory.

I have heard stories told of a thing called "heat creap". Its where elements expand and contact when turned on and off and over time manage to move enough to end up making a dodgy connection.

[Jabo]

Thanks guys,

The on-board battery is good according to my multimeter

I've removed and reinserted the mem sticks, and cleaned all the contacts and the slots so there's no dust=short possibilities. I'll try some spare memory in it first before I consign it to the skip though.

Thanks again

Jabo