Member Avatar for bethb

I have a toshiba Tecra S1 laptop running windows XP. I am unable to boot it up. I get 2 short beeps, 1 long beep, a pause and 3 short beeps. Then the beeps start all over. This does not happen each time I try to boot, sometimes it just does nothing. I have tried to attach it to an external monitor and I was able to successfully boot it up once, but then I got an "unknown video error" and the screen changed resolution (The screens were huge). It had automatically reported the problem to Microsoft when it did boot this time and Microsoft came back with a possible resolution, but I was unable to read it due to the resolution and the system shut itself down. It wont boot up again on the monitor, just getting the beeping and sometimes nothing at all.
Prior to this I had been having a few crashes which reported a driver problem, but the system was unable to identify the driver which was having the problem.
First question, any Ideas what my problem is, I am guessing it is a problem with my video driver, but I am certainly no expert, and secondly, do you know of a way to retrieve the resolution from Microsoft - it just might have the answer.

Thanks in Advance - Beth

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Other members have already hit the two sensible hypotheses: a POST-level memory fault () or a board/GPU failure (, ). The next step is an ordered, low-risk hardware isolation sequence so you can tell which side of that divide you’re on and recover data before committing to a parts repair.

  1. Power-reset and minimal boot. Remove AC and battery, hold the power button ~30s, then try power with AC only.
  2. Test RAM one stick at a time. Remove both SODIMMs, clean contacts gently, then insert a single module into the primary slot and try to power on. Repeat with the other module and in the other slot. This separates bad module vs bad slot/motherboard.
  3. Boot without the hard drive and without peripherals. If POST behavior changes, you’ll know the drive/OS isn’t the immediate blocker.
  4. External-display check. Try the external monitor again. If an external monitor consistently shows POST/BIOS while the internal panel stays dead, suspect the panel/LVDS cable; if the image is corrupted on every output, GPU/board is more likely.
  5. Visual inspection. Look for swollen capacitors or burn marks around the GPU and power circuitry; overheating traces are common failure points on older laptops.

If a single RAM stick works, replace the bad module. If neither stick works in any slot, the motherboard/sockets are suspect. If external output is clean but internal panel is dead, investigate the LVDS cable or panel before replacing the whole board.

To retrieve the Microsoft crash info mentioned earlier, remove the laptop’s drive and attach it to another PC (use an appropriate adapter/enclosure). Look for crash dump files (memory.dmp or files in C:\Windows\Minidump) and the Windows event log files (the .evt files under C:\Windows\System32\config) — those contain the report details and can be analyzed on another machine.

Caution: GPU reflow is a temporary fix and risky; motherboard replacement or a reputable repair shop is the long-term solution. If unsure, prioritize data recovery before attempting board work.

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Member Avatar for DMR

The meaning of BIOS "beep codes" can definitely be helpful, but they vary depending on the BIOS' maker. Is your BIOS an AMI, Award, Phoenix, or other?

The beep code pattern you describe does seem to have some common reference among the major BIOS makers though- it appears to point to a memory problem, and more specifically to an area of memory possibly reserved for used by the video card. Because the BIOS runs its device checks and initializations well before Windows even starts up, it would be more likely that a video card driver issue is the symptom of a lower-level problem, rather than the cause.

The first recommendation is to open your chassis and check your physical memory modules. A short description from another site:

" First check your SIMM's. Reseat them and reboot. If this doesn't do it, the memory chips may be bad. You can try switching the first and second banks memory chips. First banks are the memory banks that your CPU finds its first 64K of base memory in. You'll need to consult your manual to see which bank is first. If all your memory tests good, you probably need to buy another motherboard. "

Member Avatar for sherwood

Mine was doing exactly the same thing, video crash with the ati board, a hex dump requiring a restart. It finally died for good this morning... 2 shorts a long and three shorts... Toshiba is taking it for repair (they said its a memory problem)... I'll post when I get it back. "d-u-u-u-de I shoulda got a Dell".

Member Avatar for sachin2525

Toshiba S1 no post display but 3 beeps comping.
first 2 short beep & 1 long, after that all 3 short beeps coming.

Member Avatar for Chaky

Your VGA is fried. You need to replace the motherboard.

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