dell laptop
Computer Does Not Start

I have an inspirion and when I go to turn it on it beeps 3 times and shuts off. Not long beeps though.

it is EXTREMELY unlikely that a virus would do that.
infact, almost inpossible.
so i would rule out viruses.

Three long beeps = video card
Computer Does Not Start

Replying to mizakoThank you for the post about the video card. That is exactly what my Gateway was doing. I would turn it on and hear three long beeps and then the monitor would never come on. It did this frequently but every once in awhile the monitor came on. I took the panel off, reset the video card and that fixed it immediately.

-reply by Roger Cobb

4 beeps then 3 beeps... screen stays black
Computer Does Not Start

When I turn on my laptop it beeps 4 short then 3 short beeps. The screen stays black, LED lights are on. Nothing happens. Whats up? Anybody know? Thank You... Debbie

-question by Debbie

That could be one of three things:

• Memory problems - check the RAM is seated correctly, and not damaged. It may need replacing.
• Repalcement motherboard may be required.
• Video card damaged or not seated correctly.

Not knowing what PC you have, what motherboard it uses and which BIOS it uses, I can't say which, if any, of the possible faults above could be the one.

I agree with rvalkass . It could be any of the three or may be two of three. btw You didn't specify which BIOS is there on your motherboard. or Atleast a Laptop model.

Thanks

Please, if It's possible, take a picture with a camera or something similar. This way, we can check the problem aswell as think about/of it, and we can give more support to what's causing this.

My guess, is that one specific BIOS setting was messed with, causing a black out to your computer.
Try turning off your computer, wait for 5 minutes at the most for the electricity to drain out of your computer, and take off your computers cover.

Please NOTE: Try not to have alot of static shocks in your fingers, even though we may not know it, your little chips in your computer can fry within seconds. No smell, no feel, and is also invisible to our eyes.
Take off your cover by un-screwing the cover, and find a very small circle shaped button. This is located on your BIOS chip.
Pressing this button will reset all of your BIOS settings to the default settings on your computer.

Your BIOS chip may look something like this:



See the little button at the top right? You need to press that button in order to reset your BIOS to the default settings.
I know this because this happened to me aswell.
Even if this is not the case of what's wrong, It is still helpful for future support. If this is not the same problem I had, then use this if it ever does happen.

-Sky

I have a dell inspiron 1420 laptop too... is that going to happen to me? hope not!

Yes if computer when turn on is beeps and dont load the operating system, it must have problem with memory or video card. To test the memory, try changing slot, change the memory, to determine whether the slot is damage or your memory.