strange computer beeps

i was in the middle of creating a solo build for my ranger last night when out of the blue and without warning my computer completely shuts off. not in the normal windows way either, like the power just got cut off, but my monitor was still powered. the only clue i have as to what happened is the beeping noises it made just after turning off: it wasn't like the normal startup beep, it was a 2 tone (high then low) continuous (for lack of a better word) alarm. god i wish i could describe it better but it was sorta like a deedoo, deedoo, deedoo,deedoo

anyone have a freaking idea about this? i had to unplug it and plug it back in to get it to power back up.

I think that Award BIOS makes that beep pattern if there's damage to the CPU, the CPU is overheating, or the CPU isn't seated right. Check your heatsink and make sure it's got a solid hold and make sure any kind of CPU cooling device (fan) is working, maybe one of those is the problem. Many times when a computer shuts itself off it's doing it to protect itself, so if onboard sensors detected dangerous processor heat levels, that would explain your situation.

What narda said...if you let the system cool off for about 30min can you get it back on and play for awhile before it does it again? You should also be able to go into your system bios and check the error log to see what the problem was.

Yup. I know exactly the sould you're talking about. My bet is that either you moved your PC to a spot where there isn't good airflow or the fan on your CPU cooler died or came unplugged.

Of course, it's possible that a capacitor went out and you're not getting the right voltage or something, but that sound is usually a heat alarm. Something in your system (CPU or northbridge probably) is likely getting too hot.

As others said, overheating most probably.

Pop the case open, check that all fans work, and MAKE SURE that the heat sinks aren't full of dust

Bios beeps on startup indicate a failure be in heat or say memory simm failed (or worse). If you can get the pattern / beep code (think morse code) it will be based on tone or a "pattern" on length of tone (long or short duration).

Try this, if you have 2 memory (ram) simm's, try putting only 1 memory simm in boot, if still get beep, then put the other memory simm in. If this fixes it then one of your memory (ram) simms failed.

If you do not have a grounding strap, make sure you keep "decharging" your self by touching the power supply before touching things inside your mother board.

Simms? Who on earth still uses simms? Last I checked original Pentiums used those, it's all DIMM these days. Or RIMM, but suppose that is more or less dead these days as well (my office comp used those, really.. something else than nice )

</nitpick>

thank you all for your help. unfortunately shortly after i posted my comp died.
as in every time i booted up it went straight to the "blue screen". not being a hardware guy i struck a deal with the only local computer shop. he was completely cool, helped me clean it out. apperantly my cpu fan had stopped working because it was clogged with dust lol (my cpu made the sound when it overheated).
i'm supposed to help him clean spyware infested computers, whee!

Isnt that gunna be fun lol

Ouch. Sorry to hear that mate, I wish we had responded in time.

So is your actual processor toast or is he going to be able to salvage it?

the processor is fine, just cleaned it up