2 Intern
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508 Posts
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2379
April 20th, 2022 09:00
Beeps 2 long 2 short twice.
Hi
So I have broken the thing, I will get serial number etc as needed.
I cannot tell what I have inflicted on an old DELL desktop, and it now gives 2 long, 2 short beeps TWICE.
No screen output at all, and I suspect I have caused a CPU failure.
The front panel has a 1,2,3, and 4 illumnated number sequence, and 3 and 4 remain lit.
TIA.
What could I do next.
No Events found!
fireberd
9 Legend
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33.4K Posts
1
April 20th, 2022 10:00
I had the big brother to the 3100/E310, I had a 5100/E510.
Two long and two short is not listed. Lights 3 and 4 are memory related.
Given the age, if the CMOS battery hasn't been replaced in the last 5 years start with that. CR2032 coin cell battery located on motherboard. Power off PC before replacing.
Also, with it powered off, reseat the memory - unplug each memory module then reinstall.
Here is the link to the Dell service manual, that includes blink and beep codes.
Dimension 3100/E310 Service Manual (dell.com)
ann_droid
2 Intern
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508 Posts
0
April 20th, 2022 09:00
Thanks.
I will get more details.
Dell Dimension 3100
Service tag?
Service Code?
fireberd
9 Legend
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33.4K Posts
0
April 20th, 2022 09:00
You missed the most important thing, the model number. There are differences in beep codes and diagnostic lights between many models.
ann_droid
2 Intern
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508 Posts
0
April 20th, 2022 10:00
Hi
Thanks.
Memory?
Removed and tried another single stick and then another stick, so I am a little sceptical.
CMOS possibly, but I believe I changed it recently.
So if it is memory then it might be on the Main Board.
Thanks again.
ann_droid
2 Intern
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508 Posts
0
April 24th, 2022 04:00
Hi
Fireberd you were not wrong.
After 2 days I tried again, and refitting in sequence the original memory worke as before.
Therefore I think it was/is either intermittent or a heat related stress.
So I loaded Debian 32 bit, and got the earlier W7 to boot also.
Debian 'froze' and W7 is obsolete.
The service tag is no longer recognised.
So it is the recycle bin for the item.
Thanks again.
RoHe
10 Elder
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45.2K Posts
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April 25th, 2022 11:00
Don't forget to securely wipe or destroy the HDD before tossing it in the recycle bin.
You can use DBAN (free) on a bootable USB stick to wipe the drive. And you can use Rufus (free) on any PC to make a USB bootable, before putting DBAN on it.
ann_droid
2 Intern
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508 Posts
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April 27th, 2022 01:00
Hi
Thanks.
I retained the HDD's and PSU, along with the memory modules.
I also scrapped a homemade 686 as well.
Next is a P166 possibly, then who knows quite what I might dump.
Thanks again for all the help.