Dell laptop beeps on start up and then freezes

Hi everyone

I am having a major problem with my laptop (Dell inspiron 1520). The laptop starts up, whe the dell logo disappears I get some very quick beeps (there must be about 8 beeps in total). I then get a boot manager screen which shows windows 7 at the top, and windows memory diagnostic in the tools section at the bottom. When I press enter it goes to the password screen and then after entering the password it seems to boot up as normal. I can probably get 2 - 3 minutes use out of my laptop before everything freezes. From this point I cannot do anything and have to tur the computer off by the switch. This is all it does in a constant loop. I have tried everything I can think of but still the same issue.

A couple of weeks ago my daughter spilt a little water on the keyboard. I mopped it up but next time I booted it up again the beeping noises started on start up. I removed the memory stick from under the keybpard and noticed there was signs of water damage. I removed the memory stick and the beeps on start up continued every time I booted the laptop up. But everything worked. Last Friday I was browsing the internet and that is when everything froze.

I have tried to restore to an earlier date but it won't let me complete the restore. I have run the various disk repairs that are offered when pressing F8 at the dell logo screen but to no avail (it doesn't seem to find any issues). I really just want to get my files/photos off and then try and reinstall windows but as explained my computer won't stay on long enough for me to be able to do anything.

The computer will stay on in safe mode, however, it will not load in safe mode with networking. Could it be something to do with wifi? Reason I say this is I have been reading various threads and this has been suggested as a possible issue for one person's similar problem.

I'm sorry if I haven't provided all the information that might be needed, if anyone can help I would be most grateful. If any more info is needed then please let me know. Thanks in advance.

Hi Ian,
I posted a beep guide many moons ago here:

The complete Bios Beep guide

According to this guide the beeps are telling you that the display memory is defective.

A more definitive test would be to run memtest (the windows app just doesn't cut it really):

Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

hi, and thanks for a speedy response. I have come across the beep guide before but the beeps are so quick I am struggling to make any sense out them. I forgot to mention above that I have installed a new memory card already and I have the same problem. I've just booted it up again and it seems I have 7 beeps in total. EDIT - i have rebooted on different occasions and the beeps range from 6 to 8!

I've just rebooted and it seems that there is no network connection found on my laptop anymore. Perhaps this is why I can't boot it in safe mode with networking. I haven't unistalled anything at all. Would this perhaps point to the problem?

Ian is the lappie under warranty or insured at all?

Hi

No it isn't under warranty, although I am sure they wouldn't cover accidental damage anyway. I spoke to a couple of repair places yesterday and was pretty much told the same from both of them, that there is likely to be further water damage which is causing the problem. It is currently being stripped and inspected by them so I'll see what they have to say. thanks for the responses.

Please let us know the outcome.

Hi. Well......my laptop went in for repairs and it seems that I still have a problem. They stripped the laptop to check if there was any damage to the motherboard which there wasn't. They have reinstalled windows, and now every time I boot the laptop up I get 3 beeps, but at least it does not freeze now and I can use the computer. I also get the windows boot manager every time I boot up and it asks me to select an operating system - there is only one to chose from which is 'windows 7 (recovered).' I was getting this before when the problems started with my laptop.

1) Any idea's why I am getting this and is there any way I can remove this so it boots straight into windows?
2) Also, from the bios beep codes guide, the 3 beeps means '3 short Base 64K memory failure- A memory failure has occurred in the first 64K of RAM. The RAM IC is probably bad.' What does this mean and how can I rectify it? It has a brand new 2gb memory card in there (I have switched between an original 1gb card and this new 2gb card and still the same 3 beeps).
Thanks in advance.

Hi Ian,
try running the Windows 7 repair option. You'll need to boot from the 7 disk but instead of installing choose 'Repair' instead. Hopefully that should cure the start-up ills.

If your still hearing beeps relating to memory and the memory has been replaced then it could down to the mainboard itself. Have you tried contacting Dell support in this situation?

Hi Kemical, Thanks for your continued help. I shall try the repair option now, I haven't been in touch with Dell support yet but that will be next on the list if nothing else works. Thanks again, I'll post an update.