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View Full Version : strange video problem work around



Xpirate
11-27-2009, 08:22 PM
My parents old computer is an Athlon with an ECS motherboard. When it is powered on, we get 1 long and two short beeps, which means that it has a display adapter problem. All it takes to make it power on is to hit the reset button, then it will boot without the beep code. You have to press the reset button every time to make it startup.

I tried to put the problem to a permanent end by changing the video card. it had an AGP and I replaced it with a PCI and the exact problem persisted. I have messed around with the video settings in the BIOS and the problem still exists. I pretty much did everything possible with the BIOS regarding the video.

The workaround of pressing reset after you power it on is the only thing that keeps the motherboard from being complete junk. You will never hear the beep code if you immediately press the reset button after you press the power button, but if you don't press reset, you get the beep code.

I seriously thought about hard wiring the power and reset buttons together. I'm not certain that would work because if you wire them together you would basically be pressing the power and reset buttons at the same time. The sequence needs to be power then reset.

It's not a big problem with that workaround. Have any of you seen anything like this?

Luke122
11-27-2009, 08:42 PM
Have you tried resetting the bios to factory defaults, or tried another power supply? Just a couple of quick thoughts. :)

Xpirate
11-27-2009, 10:14 PM
Haven't tried a different power supply. But I have done everything with the BIOS. I even updated it to the latest one. I hoped that I could fix the problem before giving it away to goodwill or a family member. I guess I will just have to tape instructions on it that reads: Press this button first (with arrow to the power button), then press this one (arrow to reset) to power it on.

I know that is kind of sorry, but I can not find anything on Google to fix it. The motherboard may just have some kind of hardware problem that the reset button clears. If that is the case, it will never get repaired.