At system startup the computer emit: 1 long beep and 3 short beep. Never appear to the screen. Could be a cpu problem??

AMI BIOS beep codes Below are the AMI BIOS Beep codes that can occur. However, because of the wide variety of different computer manufacturers with this BIOS, the beep codes may vary.
Beep Code Descriptions 1 short DRAM refresh failure 2 short Parity circuit failure 3 short Base 64K RAM failure 4 short System timer failure 5 short Process failure 6 short Keyboard controller Gate A20 error 7 short Virtual mode exception error 8 short Display memory Read/Write test failure 9 short ROM BIOS checksum failure 10 short CMOS shutdown Read/Write error 11 short Cache Memory error 1 long, 3 short Conventional/Extended memory failure 1 long, 8 short Display/Retrace test failed Award BIOS Beep codes that can occur. However, because of the wide variety of different computer manufacturers with this BIOS, the beep codes may vary. Beep Code Description 1 long, 2 short Indicates a video error has occurred and the BIOS cannot initialize the video screen to display any additional information Any other beep(s) RAM problem. If any other correctable hardware issues is found the BIOS displays a message. No Power, Loose Card, or Short.1 Short BeepNormal POST, computer is ok.2 Short BeepPOST error, review screen for error code.Continuous BeepNo Power, Loose Card, or Short.Repeating Short BeepNo Power, Loose Card, or Short.One Long and one Short BeepMotherboard issue.One Long and Two Short BeepsVideo (Mono/CGA Display Circuitry) issue.One Long and Three Short Beeps.Video (EGA) Display Circuitry.Three Long BeepsKeyboard or Keyboard card error.One Beep, Blank or Incorrect DisplayVideo Display Circuitry. Phoenix BIOS Q3.07 OR 4.X Beep Code Description and what to check 1-1-1-3 Verify Real Mode. 1-1-2-1 Get CPU Type. 1-1-2-3 Initialize system hardware. 1-1-3-1 Initialize chipset registers with initial POST values. 1-1-3-2 Set in POST flag. 1-1-3-3 Initialize CPU registers. 1-1-4-1 Initialize cache to initial POST values. 1-1-4-3 Initialize I/O. 1-2-1-1 Initialize Power Management. 1-2-1-2 Load alternate registers with initial POST values. 1-2-1-3 Jump to UserPatch0. 1-2-2-1 Initialize keyboard controller. 1-2-2-3 BIOS ROM checksum. 1-2-3-1 8254 timer initialization. 1-2-3-3 8237 DMA controller initialization. 1-2-4-1 Reset Programmable Interrupt Controller. 1-3-1-1 Test DRAM refresh. 1-3-1-3 Test 8742 Keyboard Controller. 1-3-2-1 Set ES segment to register to 4 GB. 1-3-3-1 28 Autosize DRAM. 1-3-3-3 Clear 512K base RAM. 1-3-4-1 Test 512 base address lines. 1-3-4-3 Test 512K base memory. 1-4-1-3 Test CPU bus-clock frequency. 1-4-2-4 Reinitialize the chipset. 1-4-3-1 Shadow system BIOS ROM. 1-4-3-2 Reinitialize the cache. 1-4-3-3 Autosize cache. 1-4-4-1 Configure advanced chipset registers. 1-4-4-2 Load alternate registers with CMOS values. 2-1-1-1 Set Initial CPU speed. 2-1-1-3 Initialize interrupt vectors. 2-1-2-1 Initialize BIOS interrupts. 2-1-2-3 Check ROM copyright notice. 2-1-2-4 Initialize manager for PCI Options ROMs. 2-1-3-1 Check video configuration against CMOS. 2-1-3-2 Initialize PCI bus and devices. 2-1-3-3 Initialize all video adapters in system. 2-1-4-1 Shadow video BIOS ROM. 2-1-4-3 Display copyright notice. 2-2-1-1 Display CPU Type and speed. 2-2-1-3 Test keyboard. 2-2-2-1 Set key click if enabled. 2-2-2-3 56 Enable keyboard. 2-2-3-1 Test for unexpected interrupts. 2-2-3-3 Display prompt Press F2 to enter SETUP. 2-2-4-1 Test RAM between 512 and 640k. 2-3-1-1 Test expanded memory. 2-3-1-3 Test extended memory address lines. 2-3-2-1 Jump to UserPatch1. 2-3-2-3 Configure advanced cache registers. 2-3-3-1 Enable external and CPU caches. 2-3-3-3 Display external cache size. 2-3-4-1 Display shadow message. 2-3-4-3 Display non-disposable segments. 2-4-1-1 Display error messages. 2-4-1-3 Check for configuration errors. 2-4-2-1 Test real-time clock. 2-4-2-3 Check for keyboard errors 2-4-4-1 Set up hardware interrupts vectors. 2-4-4-3 Test coprocessor if present. 3-1-1-1 Disable onboard I/O ports. 3-1-1-3 Detect and install external RS232 ports. 3-1-2-1 Detect and install external parallel ports. 3-1-2-3 Re-initialize onboard I/O ports. 3-1-3-1 Initialize BIOS Data Area. 3-1-3-3 Initialize Extended BIOS Data Area. 3-1-4-1 Initialize floppy controller. 3-2-1-1 Initialize hard disk controller. 3-2-1-2 Initialize local bus hard disk controller. 3-2-1-3 Jump to UserPatch2. 3-2-2-1 Disable A20 address line. 3-2-2-3 Clear huge ES segment register. 3-2-3-1 Search for option ROMs. 3-2-3-3 Shadow option ROMs. 3-2-4-1 Set up Power Management. 3-2-4-3 Enable hardware interrupts. 3-3-1-1 Set time of day. 3-3-1-3 Check key lock. 3-3-3-1 Erase F2 prompt. 3-3-3-3 Scan for F2 key stroke. 3-3-4-1 Enter SETUP. 3-3-4-3 Clear in POST flag. 3-4-1-1 Check for errors 3-4-1-3 POST done - prepare to boot operating system. 3-4-2-1 One beep. 3-4-2-3 Check password (optional). 3-4-3-1 Clear global descriptor table. 3-4-4-1 Clear parity checkers. 3-4-4-3 Clear screen (optional). 3-4-4-4 Check virus and backup reminders. 4-1-1-1 Try to boot with INT 19. 4-2-1-1 Interrupt handler error. 4-2-1-3 Unknown interrupt error. 4-2-2-1 Pending interrupt error. 4-2-2-3 Initialize option ROM error. 4-2-3-1 Shutdown error. 4-2-3-3 Extended Block Move. 4-2-4-1 Shutdown 10 error. 4-3-1-3 Initialize the chipset. 4-3-1-4 Initialize refresh counter. 4-3-2-1 Check for Forced Flash. 4-3-2-2 Check HW status of ROM. 4-3-2-3 BIOS ROM is OK. 4-3-2-4 Do a complete RAM test. 4-3-3-1 Do OEM initialization. 4-3-3-2 Initialize interrupt controller. 4-3-3-3 Read in bootstrap code. 4-3-3-4 Initialize all vectors. 4-3-4-1 Boot the Flash program. 4-3-4-2 Initialize the boot device. 4-3-4-3 Boot code was read OK.


http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm

Your motherboard is dead.

If an error occurs during startup that cannot be reported on the monitor, your computer may emit a beep code that identifies the problem. The beep code is a pattern of sounds: for example, one beep, followed by a second beep, and then a burst of three beeps (code 1-1-3) means that the computer was unable to read the data in NVRAM.
YOu can find complete table on Dell support site.

Most of such errors can be fixed with a system utility software RegInOut

Hi John. If you already swaped the Memory, it's the video card. I'm giving you what the beep means according to the different types of BIOS, because basically Ascent is a clone PC. I hope it helps.
(you will have to open the computer to see the BIOS type.)

BIOS AWARD

1 long beep and 2 shorts -- Video error
2 short beeps -- non-fatal error.
1 beep corto -- OK.

BIOS AMI

1 short beep -- Memory error.
2 short beeps -- ECC error.
3 short beeps -- Memory error.
4 short beeps -- change atery
5 beeps cortos -- bad processor.
6 beeps cortos -- bad keyboard.
7 beeps cortos -- video memory bad.
8 beeps cortos -- video bad.
BIOS PHOENIX

1-1-2 beeps -- Problem with cpu/motherboard.
1-1-3 beeps -- Cmos issue.
3-4-1 beeps -- Video issue.

BIOS IBM

1 short beep -- Post normal, ok!.
2 short beeps -- POST error, will show on screen.
NO beep -- CPU issue or Expansion card issue
1 long and 1 short -- motherboard error.
1 long and 2 shorts -- Video issue.
1 long and 3 shorts --EGA video issue.
3 longs -- Keyboard error.

Without knowing what motherboard is in the unit - it will be difficult to determine what the 4 beeps means.

Generally, 4 beeps means issues with :

- memory
- video card
- keyboard
- motherboard failure

Things to try -

- make sure there is no keys stuck down
- remove the battery and AC adapter, remove and re-install the memory sticks (reseating the memory)

If this does not work, your problem may be more serious. Let us know the results of the above suggestions.

First you need to know which BIOS you have and how many beeps it is producing... these beeps are the POST - Power On Self Test. They tell us if there are problems such as missing keyboard, video card not working, memory faults etc...

Then you need to go to the appropriate BIOS site and see what the number of beeps mean.

If it is a single beep - it means all is well...
As you are not getting anything more you should check to see if the Hard Drive (HD) light flashes - if so - the HD is probably operating ok and loading your system but there is either a problem with your monitor or video card... borrow another monitor and see if that helps...

But it all depends on the number of beeps you get and what kind - long and short beeps (like morse code).

If this helped you at all please vote!

On startup beep how many beep do you hear?


1 short beep
Normal POST - 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 Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA) 3 long beeps 3270 keyboard card

Hope it Help you out ^_^

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

I think the msg you are seeing is just the default monitor message when there is no video to display. Here is a list of common beep codes: Are you getting the one long beep at each restart?

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