When I power up I get three short beeps and 8.7 in post screen. I have taken everything out RAM Boards etc and put back but no change. I can get to boot without problem some times if I put finger pressure on the side of ATX12V1 plug in socket. I have taken 12v power from differing source and routed through new plug into ATX12V! but no joy. There is only a 4 pin plug connecting into the 8 pin ATX12V1 socket but this has worked for years. I have looked at the MOBO for signs of damage dry joint at socket but all to no avail any ideas please.

Hi, Do this beeping code for motherboard troubleshooting. First disconnect all memory,external video card, etc only motherboard and power supply. Then power on if you hear continuous beeping means the motherboard working good. Please do this beeping code troubleshooting.
No beeping means Short, No power, Bad CPU/MB, Loose Peripherals. One beeping means Everything is normal and Computer posted fine. Two beeping means POST/CMOS Error. One Long Beep, One Short Beep means Motherboard Problem.
One Long Beep, Two Short Beeps means Video Problem.
One Long Beep, Three Short Beeps means Video problem.
Repeated Long Beeps means memory error.
Continuous Hi-Lo Beeps means CPU Overheating.

Hi

THe most common beeps that you will encounter 95% of the time in repairing PC's are:

1 beep - computer ok
continous beeps / long beeps - memory error
continous short beeps - bios boot block/corrupted bios
1 long beep followed by 3 short beeps - video card error


or this might help

you can check out this list



AMI BIOS

1 short - Computer ok
2 short - RAM failure
3 short - Parity RAM failure
4 short - System timer failure
5 short - Motherboard failure
6 short - Keyboard controller error
7 short - CPU failure
8 short - Video RAM failure
9 short - ROM BIOS error
10 short - CMOS read/write error
11 short - Cache RAM error
1 short, 3 long - Memory failure
1 short, 8 long - Video adapter failure

Check board/chipset makers website for more infomation.

AWARD BIOS

1 long - Memory error
1 long, 2 short - Video error
1 long, 3 short - Video failure
Continuous beeps - Memory or video failure

note that AWARD relies on motherboard manufacturers to develop their own beep codes - the above are only their own internal codes. You will need to refer to your own manual for an explanation of precise codes.


Standard IBM beep codes.

No beep - Power supply or motherboard failure
1 short - System is ok
2 short - POST error (code displayed on screen)
Repeating short - Motherboard failure
1 long, 1 short - Motherboard failure
1 long, 2 short - Video display adapter failure
1 long, 3 short - Video display adapter error
3 long - Keyboard error


Pheonix beep codes

1-1-3 CMOS memory failure
1-1-4 BIOS failure
1-2-1 System timer error
1-2-2 Motherboard error
1-2-3 Motherboard error
1-3-1 Motherboard error
1-4-1 Motherboard error
1-4-2 Memory error
2-x-x Memory failure (any number of other beeps)
3-1-x Chipset error (any number of other beeps)
3-2-4 Keyboard controller error
3-3-4 Video adapter failure
4-2-4 Expansion card failure
4-3-4 Time of day clock failure
4-4-1 Serial port error
4-4-2 Parallel port error
4-4-3 Math co-processor error


pls rate as fixya if it helps. thanks

Hi.
Do this solution first in the motherboard only processor installed need no memory.then power on your PC.if your motherboard no continues beeping.that need replacement of parts specially capacitor
leakage,became big or burn parts.
See beeping code.

Beep Code:
Description of Problem:
No Beeps
Short, No power, Bad CPU/MB, Loose Peripherals
One Beep
Everything is normal and Computer POSTed fine
Two Beeps
POST/CMOS Error
One Long Beep, One Short Beep
Motherboard Problem
One Long Beep, Two Short Beeps
Video Problem
One Long Beep, Three Short Beeps
Video Problem
Three Long Beeps
Keyboard Error
Repeated Long Beeps
Memory Error
Continuous Hi-Lo Beeps
CPU Overheating

This is a list of ThinkPad Beep codes.
It appears you have a memory or motherboard problem, most likely a RAM problem. Try reseating the RAM modules, if this doesn't work, then remove the RAM and take them to your friendly computer repair shop to get them to test the RAM modules for you. If the RAM is faulty them replace.


Beep symptoms

Symptom or error
Service part or action, in sequence
One beep and a blank, unreadable, or flashing LCD.

1. Reseat the LCD connector
2. LCD assembly
3. External CRT
4. System board

One long and two short beeps, and a blank or unreadable LCD.

1. System board
2. LCD assembly
3. DIMM

Two short beeps with error codes.
POST error. See Numeric error codes for more help.

Two short beeps and a blank screen.

1. System board
2. DIMM

Three short beeps, pause, three more short beeps, and one short beep.

1. DIMM
2. System board

One short beep, pause, three short beeps, pause, three more short beeps, and one short beep.

1. DIMM
2. System board

reasons for no post are the bare basics,
Video
Ram
Power

you should remove everything else HD doesnt need to be attached to post. retry the boot. if no post try to force a beep code by removing the ram. if it beeps its video if it doesnt its mobo.

some boards dont require video, so if video isnt present or not working it will post normaly and give you no beep codes (Bios thinks nothings wrong).

if removing everything but video and ram works try reducing power consumption or get a bigger power supply.

replace the ram

Put just the ram back into the motherboard, the pc will not boot without processor, ram and graphics pluged into the board, check this, if it will still not boot and you still get 3 beeps its a memory(ram) problem, and you will need to replace the memory stick.

how old is the system? Have you made any changes to the system (taken anything out then put it back in? Does it COUNT the memory? is the count proper? are there any BEEP CODES being sent? if there are beep codes then write them down.. if there is a non stop beep code then something is not plugged in properly Have you added any new hardware? IE any new cards? any new RAM? DELL is an extremely PROPRIETARY system basically means that not all hardware will word in it.. if you added any new hardware, try to remove the new additions, see if it starts properly then.. It appears that the graphics card is functional since you say it makes it to the POST.. crack the system open remove and reistall the RAM memory it is possible one or more has worked loose or maybe put in somewhat out of sync.. I had a NB that I put some new RAM into, and the RAM was misconfigured even though it claimed to be for HP.. I replaced the new ram with the old and it straightened everything out for me.. sometimes the 8/16/32 nit cards won't be completely seated and that causes massive headaches too

Standard Original IBM POST Error Codes
Code Description
1 short beep System is OK
2 short beeps POST Error - error code shown on screen No beep Power supply or system board problem Continuous beep Power supply, system board, or keyboard problem Repeating short beeps Power supply or system board problem
1 long, 1 short beep System board problem
1 long, 2 short beeps Display adapter problem (MDA, CGA)
1 long, 3 short beeps Display adapter problem (EGA)
3 long beeps 3270 keyboard card
IBM POST Diagnostic Code Descriptions
Code Description
100 - 199 System Board
200 - 299 Memory
300 - 399 Keyboard
400 - 499 Monochrome Display
500 - 599 Colour/Graphics Display
600 - 699 Floppy-disk drive and/or Adapter
700 - 799 Math Coprocessor
900 - 999 Parallel Printer Port
1000 - 1099 Alternate Printer Adapter
1100 - 1299 Asynchronous Communication Device, Adapter, or Port
1300 - 1399 Game Port
1400 - 1499 Colour/Graphics Printer
1500 - 1599 Synchronous Communication Device, Adapter, or Port
1700 - 1799 Hard Drive and/or Adapter
1800 - 1899 Expansion Unit (XT)
2000 - 2199 Bisynchronous Communication Adapter
2400 - 2599 EGA system-board Video (MCA)
3000 - 3199 LAN Adapter
4800 - 4999 Internal Modem
7000 - 7099 Phoenix BIOS Chips
7300 - 7399 3.5" Disk Drive
8900 - 8999 MIDI Adapter
11200 - 11299 SCSI Adapter
21000 - 21099 SCSI Fixed Disk and Controller
21500 - 21599 SCSI CD-ROM System
AMI BIOS Beep Codes
Code Description
1 Short Beep System OK
2 Short Beeps Parity error in the first 64 KB of memory
3 Short Beeps Memory failure in the first 64 KB
4 Short Beeps Memory failure in the first 64 KB Operational of memory
or Timer 1 on the motherboard is not functioning
5 Short Beeps The CPU on the motherboard generated an error
6 Short Beeps The keyboard controller may be bad. The BIOS cannot switch to protected mode
7 Short Beeps The CPU generated an exception interrupt
8 Short Beeps The system video adapter is either missing, or its memory is faulty
9 Short Beeps The ROM checksum value does not match the value encoded in the BIOS
10 Short Beeps The shutdown register for CMOS RAM failed
11 Short Beeps The external cache is faulty
1 Long, 3 Short Beeps Memory Problems
1 Long, 8 Short Beeps Video Card Problems
Phoenix BIOS Beep Codes
Note - Phoenix BIOS emits three sets of beeps, separated by a brief pause.
Code Description
1-1-3 CMOS read/write failure
1-1-4 ROM BIOS checksum error
1-2-1 Programmable interval timer failure
1-2-2 DMA initialisation failure
1-2-3 DMA page register read/write failure
1-3-1 RAM refresh verification failure
1-3-3 First 64k RAM chip or data line failure
1-3-4 First 64k RAM odd/even logic failure
1-4-1 Address line failure first 64k RAM
1-4-2 Parity failure first 64k RAM
2-_-_ Faulty Memory
3-1-_ Faulty Motherboard
3-2-4 Keyboard controller Test failure
3-3-4 Screen initialisation failure
3-4-1 Screen retrace test failure
3-4-2 Search for video ROM in progress
4-2-1 Timer tick interrupt in progress or failure
4-2-2 Shutdown test in progress or failure
4-2-3 Gate A20 failure
4-2-4 Unexpected interrupt in protected mode
4-3-1 RAM test in progress or failure>ffffh
4-3-2 Faulty Motherboard
4-3-3 Interval timer channel 2 test or failure
4-3-4 Time of Day clock test failure
4-4-1 Serial port test or failure
4-4-2 Parallel port test or failure
4-4-3 Math coprocessor test or failure
Low 1-1-2 System Board select failure
Low 1-1-3 Extended CMOS RAM failure