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From: Antares 531 on 5 Mar 2010 09:56
On Fri, 5 Mar 2010 09:41:50 -0500, "Daave" <daave(a)example.com> wrote:

>Antares 531 wrote:
>> On Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:28:31 -0600, Antares 531
>> <gordonlrDELETE(a)swbell.net> wrote:
>>
>>> On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 09:25:25 -0600, Antares 531
>>> <gordonlrDELETE(a)swbell.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard
>>>> that I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer
>>>> and have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all
>>>> checked out and settled in.
>>>>
>>>> Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one
>>>> second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The
>>>> drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of
>>>> lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it
>>>> goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of
>>>> the computer flash a few times, then everything stops.
>>>>
>>>> I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and
>>>> also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither
>>>> boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light
>>>> flashes a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the
>>>> BEEP.
>>>>
>>>> Any ideas as to what I might try next?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks, Gordon
>>>>
>>> I finally got the above problem resolved and for a day or so this old
>>> computer worked very well. But, this morning when I turned it on
>>> after being shut down overnight I got a continuous beep. Everything
>>> seemed to be working okay but the beep didn't stop.
>>>
>>> I opened the case and noticed the CPU fan was running in short bursts
>>> of about 2 seconds then stopping for about the same length of time.
>>> This continued until I shut the computer down and re-booted...cold
>>> boot. After this, the fan ran constantly and there was no more
>>> beeping.
>>>
>>> This computer has an Intel Core 2 Duo processor E6750, LGA 775 Pkg
>>> 2.66 GHZ, 4MB L2 Cache, 1333 MHz FSB.
>>>
>>> Is this an indication of something in the process of failing or was
>>> it just a fluke of some sort?
>>>
>>> Thanks for your insights, Gordon
>>>
>> I just came across the following site and now I'm wondering if maybe
>> all my recent spate of problems might have been caused by the NVIDIA
>> Drivers. Do any of you have any further insights into this.
>>
>> http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=7551
>>
>> Here's the opening clip from this site in case you don't have time to
>> visit it and read the full text.
>>
>> I'm getting a steady stream of reports in from NVIDIA users that the
>> latest 196.75 drivers can cause severe cooling problems, even possibly
>> resulting in the death of the hardware.
>>
>> The problem seems to be related to the fan controller, causing the
>> fans to slow down, and even stop. This happening while the card is in
>> use is a very bad thing indeed, and can cause poor performance (as the
>> GPU tries to cool itself down by reducing power) and possibly even
>> overheat your GPU to the point where the card stops working.
>>
>> ---copy/paste from web site---
>> NVIDIA 196.75 drivers were released on Marc 2nd, and have now been
>> removed from the download site. If you are running these drivers it is
>> HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you uninstall this driver and immediately
>> downgrade to the 196.21 drivers.
>
>So, did you roll back the driver? If so, is your problem gone? Enquiring
>minds want to know!
>
I had already installed a new video card, to replace the one that
failed. It came with new drivers, but they aren't the same sequence,
number-wise as those listed on the above web site.

My new GeForce 9500 GT installed the following drivers;
Driver Date 6/10/09
Version 6.14.11.8618

I don't have any way of knowing what the driver version was when the
old video card failed. I had not done any driver updates, but maybe
this had been done by my automatic updates settings.

The new problem with the CPU fan (not the graphics card fan) is still
going on. Any time I shut the computer down for a few hours...long
enough for it do cool down to room temperature...the CPU fan runs
sporadically, the beep sound comes on and I have to re-boot. After
re-booting everything runs normally.

I'm thinking this CPU fan problem may be the result of some other
driver or hardware malfunction. But, at this time I don't have any
information on this or any ideas as to what I could do to clear the
problem away.

Gordon
From: Daave on 5 Mar 2010 13:13
Antares 531 wrote:
> On Fri, 5 Mar 2010 09:41:50 -0500, "Daave" <daave(a)example.com> wrote:
>
>> Antares 531 wrote:
>>> On Wed, 03 Mar 2010 09:28:31 -0600, Antares 531
>>> <gordonlrDELETE(a)swbell.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 09:25:25 -0600, Antares 531
>>>> <gordonlrDELETE(a)swbell.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard
>>>>> that I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new
>>>>> computer and have been keeping the old one alive until I get the
>>>>> new one all checked out and settled in.
>>>>>
>>>>> Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about
>>>>> one second long during the boot process but won't go any farther.
>>>>> The drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first
>>>>> sign of lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as
>>>>> far as it goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on
>>>>> the front of the computer flash a few times, then everything
>>>>> stops.
>>>>>
>>>>> I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk,
>>>>> and also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it.
>>>>> Neither boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive
>>>>> light flashes a few times then quits and nothing more happens
>>>>> after the BEEP.
>>>>>
>>>>> Any ideas as to what I might try next?
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks, Gordon
>>>>>
>>>> I finally got the above problem resolved and for a day or so this
>>>> old computer worked very well. But, this morning when I turned it
>>>> on after being shut down overnight I got a continuous beep.
>>>> Everything seemed to be working okay but the beep didn't stop.
>>>>
>>>> I opened the case and noticed the CPU fan was running in short
>>>> bursts of about 2 seconds then stopping for about the same length
>>>> of time. This continued until I shut the computer down and
>>>> re-booted...cold boot. After this, the fan ran constantly and
>>>> there was no more beeping.
>>>>
>>>> This computer has an Intel Core 2 Duo processor E6750, LGA 775 Pkg
>>>> 2.66 GHZ, 4MB L2 Cache, 1333 MHz FSB.
>>>>
>>>> Is this an indication of something in the process of failing or was
>>>> it just a fluke of some sort?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for your insights, Gordon
>>>>
>>> I just came across the following site and now I'm wondering if maybe
>>> all my recent spate of problems might have been caused by the NVIDIA
>>> Drivers. Do any of you have any further insights into this.
>>>
>>> http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=7551
>>>
>>> Here's the opening clip from this site in case you don't have time
>>> to visit it and read the full text.
>>>
>>> I'm getting a steady stream of reports in from NVIDIA users that the
>>> latest 196.75 drivers can cause severe cooling problems, even
>>> possibly resulting in the death of the hardware.
>>>
>>> The problem seems to be related to the fan controller, causing the
>>> fans to slow down, and even stop. This happening while the card is
>>> in use is a very bad thing indeed, and can cause poor performance
>>> (as the GPU tries to cool itself down by reducing power) and
>>> possibly even overheat your GPU to the point where the card stops
>>> working.
>>>
>>> ---copy/paste from web site---
>>> NVIDIA 196.75 drivers were released on Marc 2nd, and have now been
>>> removed from the download site. If you are running these drivers it
>>> is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you uninstall this driver and immediately
>>> downgrade to the 196.21 drivers.
>>
>> So, did you roll back the driver? If so, is your problem gone?
>> Enquiring minds want to know!
>>
> I had already installed a new video card, to replace the one that
> failed. It came with new drivers, but they aren't the same sequence,
> number-wise as those listed on the above web site.
>
> My new GeForce 9500 GT installed the following drivers;
> Driver Date 6/10/09
> Version 6.14.11.8618
>
> I don't have any way of knowing what the driver version was when the
> old video card failed. I had not done any driver updates, but maybe
> this had been done by my automatic updates settings.
>
> The new problem with the CPU fan (not the graphics card fan) is still
> going on. Any time I shut the computer down for a few hours...long
> enough for it do cool down to room temperature...the CPU fan runs
> sporadically, the beep sound comes on and I have to re-boot. After
> re-booting everything runs normally.
>
> I'm thinking this CPU fan problem may be the result of some other
> driver or hardware malfunction. But, at this time I don't have any
> information on this or any ideas as to what I could do to clear the
> problem away.

If you are handy with a multimeter, that should give you good
information.

Otherwise, replace the PSU and see what happens. If the CPU fan problem
is resolved, then you know it was a voltage issue and all will be well
(with the new PSU). If not, then you know the problem is with the fan
itself, the motherboard (hopefully not), or perhaps the CPU.

It really sounds like your problem is hardware-related. You will get
better suggestions if you start a new thread in a hardware newsgroup. To
see whether or not the hardware is fine (I doubt it, though!), you could
boot off a live Linux CD and see whether or not you experience similar
problems.


From: Antares 531 on 5 Mar 2010 14:11
On Fri, 5 Mar 2010 13:13:15 -0500, "Daave" <daave(a)example.com> wrote:

>Antares 531 wrote:
>> On Fri, 5 Mar 2010 09:41:50 -0500, "Daave" <daave(a)example.com> wrote:
>>
(snip)
>>>>
>>>> ---copy/paste from web site---
>>>> NVIDIA 196.75 drivers were released on Marc 2nd, and have now been
>>>> removed from the download site. If you are running these drivers it
>>>> is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you uninstall this driver and immediately
>>>> downgrade to the 196.21 drivers.
>>>
>>> So, did you roll back the driver? If so, is your problem gone?
>>> Enquiring minds want to know!
>>>
>> I had already installed a new video card, to replace the one that
>> failed. It came with new drivers, but they aren't the same sequence,
>> number-wise as those listed on the above web site.
>>
>> My new GeForce 9500 GT installed the following drivers;
>> Driver Date 6/10/09
>> Version 6.14.11.8618
>>
>> I don't have any way of knowing what the driver version was when the
>> old video card failed. I had not done any driver updates, but maybe
>> this had been done by my automatic updates settings.
>>
>> The new problem with the CPU fan (not the graphics card fan) is still
>> going on. Any time I shut the computer down for a few hours...long
>> enough for it do cool down to room temperature...the CPU fan runs
>> sporadically, the beep sound comes on and I have to re-boot. After
>> re-booting everything runs normally.
>>
>> I'm thinking this CPU fan problem may be the result of some other
>> driver or hardware malfunction. But, at this time I don't have any
>> information on this or any ideas as to what I could do to clear the
>> problem away.
>
>If you are handy with a multimeter, that should give you good
>information.
>
>Otherwise, replace the PSU and see what happens. If the CPU fan problem
>is resolved, then you know it was a voltage issue and all will be well
>(with the new PSU). If not, then you know the problem is with the fan
>itself, the motherboard (hopefully not), or perhaps the CPU.
>
>It really sounds like your problem is hardware-related. You will get
>better suggestions if you start a new thread in a hardware newsgroup. To
>see whether or not the hardware is fine (I doubt it, though!), you could
>boot off a live Linux CD and see whether or not you experience similar
>problems.
>
Daave, I quite agree, the PSU needs to be checked out, but until I get
my hands on another one that I can do a swap-out with, I'll have to
get along with voltage measurements. So far, I've not been able to
catch any voltage fluctuations on any of the PSU outputs, but I can't
conclude that they don't happen...I've just not had my voltmeter
probes in place at the right time, maybe. Is there any socket on the
motherboard or PSU that I could plug my voltmeter probes into and
watch what happens during the boot process after an extended shut
down, cool off time?

Would a power supply anomaly such as this trigger the beeping?

Gordon
From: Daave on 6 Mar 2010 08:57
Antares 531 wrote:
> On Fri, 5 Mar 2010 13:13:15 -0500, "Daave" <daave(a)example.com> wrote:
>
>> Antares 531 wrote:
>>> On Fri, 5 Mar 2010 09:41:50 -0500, "Daave" <daave(a)example.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
> (snip)
>>>>>
>>>>> ---copy/paste from web site---
>>>>> NVIDIA 196.75 drivers were released on Marc 2nd, and have now been
>>>>> removed from the download site. If you are running these drivers
>>>>> it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you uninstall this driver and
>>>>> immediately downgrade to the 196.21 drivers.
>>>>
>>>> So, did you roll back the driver? If so, is your problem gone?
>>>> Enquiring minds want to know!
>>>>
>>> I had already installed a new video card, to replace the one that
>>> failed. It came with new drivers, but they aren't the same sequence,
>>> number-wise as those listed on the above web site.
>>>
>>> My new GeForce 9500 GT installed the following drivers;
>>> Driver Date 6/10/09
>>> Version 6.14.11.8618
>>>
>>> I don't have any way of knowing what the driver version was when the
>>> old video card failed. I had not done any driver updates, but maybe
>>> this had been done by my automatic updates settings.
>>>
>>> The new problem with the CPU fan (not the graphics card fan) is
>>> still going on. Any time I shut the computer down for a few
>>> hours...long enough for it do cool down to room temperature...the
>>> CPU fan runs sporadically, the beep sound comes on and I have to
>>> re-boot. After re-booting everything runs normally.
>>>
>>> I'm thinking this CPU fan problem may be the result of some other
>>> driver or hardware malfunction. But, at this time I don't have any
>>> information on this or any ideas as to what I could do to clear the
>>> problem away.
>>
>> If you are handy with a multimeter, that should give you good
>> information.
>>
>> Otherwise, replace the PSU and see what happens. If the CPU fan
>> problem is resolved, then you know it was a voltage issue and all
>> will be well (with the new PSU). If not, then you know the problem
>> is with the fan itself, the motherboard (hopefully not), or perhaps
>> the CPU.
>>
>> It really sounds like your problem is hardware-related. You will get
>> better suggestions if you start a new thread in a hardware
>> newsgroup. To see whether or not the hardware is fine (I doubt it,
>> though!), you could boot off a live Linux CD and see whether or not
>> you experience similar problems.
>>
> Daave, I quite agree, the PSU needs to be checked out, but until I get
> my hands on another one that I can do a swap-out with, I'll have to
> get along with voltage measurements. So far, I've not been able to
> catch any voltage fluctuations on any of the PSU outputs, but I can't
> conclude that they don't happen...I've just not had my voltmeter
> probes in place at the right time, maybe. Is there any socket on the
> motherboard or PSU that I could plug my voltmeter probes into and
> watch what happens during the boot process after an extended shut
> down, cool off time?

It's been a while since I've used one. Perhaps these articles may be of
help:

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10878_11-1053275.html

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10878_11-1053274.html

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10878_11-1056686.html?tag=content;leftCol

http://www.ochardware.com/articles/psuvolt/psuvolt.html

> Would a power supply anomaly such as this trigger the beeping?

If the beeping is the result of a component not getting enough voltage
to function properly and if the PSU is the reason, then yes. :-)


From: Rick Merrill on 6 Mar 2010 13:01
Antares 531 wrote:
> On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 09:25:25 -0600, Antares 531
> <gordonlrDELETE(a)swbell.net> wrote:
>
>> I have an older computer with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard that
>> I home-built a few years back. I recently built a new computer and
>> have been keeping the old one alive until I get the new one all
>> checked out and settled in.
>>
>> Yesterday the old computer wouldn't boot. It makes a BEEP about one
>> second long during the boot process but won't go any farther. The
>> drive lights flash and the monitor goes through its first sign of
>> lighting up, after I turn the computer on, but this is as far as it
>> goes. The monitor goes black and the activity lights on the front of
>> the computer flash a few times, then everything stops.
>>
>> I've tried using the original Windows XP Pro installation disk, and
>> also a second boot disk that I slipstreamed with SP3 on it. Neither
>> boot disk will initiate a start-up process. The CD drive light flashes
>> a few times then quits and nothing more happens after the BEEP.
>>
>> Any ideas as to what I might try next?
>>
>> Thanks, Gordon
>>
> I finally got the above problem resolved and for a day or so this old
> computer worked very well. But, this morning when I turned it on after
> being shut down overnight I got a continuous beep. Everything seemed
> to be working okay but the beep didn't stop.
>
> I opened the case and noticed the CPU fan was running in short bursts
> of about 2 seconds then stopping for about the same length of time.
> This continued until I shut the computer down and re-booted...cold
> boot. After this, the fan ran constantly and there was no more
> beeping.

Fans are often controlled by a thermal sensor.

If the sensor goes over one limit, the fan is supposed to start.
Sensor goes over another limit, the alarm sounds.

A flaky sensor could explain what you saw, as could a tie up in the
stack that controls the sensor & fan.

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