Edwin Cohen [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] wrote:
> The computer is a Packard Bell (ugh) V134, with not bad specs--166
> Intel chip, win 95, etc.
> I hooked it up to good CRT, KB, and mouse.
> Upon power-on, I got three beeps, illumination of the power
> indicator,and the fan working.
> However, the monitor stayed absolutely blank, and the numlock and
> capslock keys on the KB did not, when pressed produce any change in
> their respective indicators.
I've got to disagree with the "prophets of doom" concerning this.
It has been my experience that a "three beep" dead machine
(regardless of the manufacturer or BIOS) is most often caused by
a dead CMOS battery.
This often "reports" as a CMOS RAM checksum error - but there
rarely is anything wrong with the CMOS RAM. Replace the battery,
and run setup. If you can't get into setup for some reason
(assuming, of course, you know the magic key sequence for that
brand), power down and disconnect the new battery.
With the CMOS battery removed, SHORT THE MOTHERBOARD CMOS LEADS
TOGETHER (NOT the battery leads) for ten seconds or so, and
reconnect the battery for another try. Shorting out the CMOS RAM
power leads in this way should disippate any voltage due to
distributed capacitance on the motherboard, allowing the CMOS to
"come up" normally when you remove the short and hook up a good
battery.
Don't have a new battery? (Or know how to get an exact replacement?)
No problem... hook up ANY battery or combination of batteries that
will provide 3-5 vdc. (YES! Two or three common AA batteries can
power any CMOS RAM on earth for a couple of years.)
You may still get some beeps (indicating that the CMOS thinks you
have different equipment than what is actually installed) - but the
keyboard lights should work, and probably the boot-up or setup
screen, too. Run setup, and you should be in business. If not,
reseat every board in the machine, including RAM SIMMs.
One more thing to check: make sure it is an AT-compatible keyboard,
and not one designed for XT's only.
Another possibility: Check the +/- 5vdc and +/- 12 vdc power
supply leads going to the motherboard. Don't put too much faith in
the +5 "power good" line which the motherboard sends back to the
power supply; if CMOS is wrong, it may not activate properly, even
though power is "good".
- John T.
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