Dell Dimension 3000 - Freeze & Loud Long Beep

I have not. I will do and report back to you. Please standby for that information. Until then can you let me know what type of information I will gain from this? For example, if 2 lights are green and 2 lights yellow then its a memory issue... or whatever the case may be. I'm just trying to get a grasp of what I should expect. Thanks again for your help and I'll get the light test results posted as soon as possible.

Thanks for the links. That is just what I was looking for.

Do the beep codes only occur during errors on start-up? Would the beep codes still be useful if the computer has already successfully booted and been on for 20 or so minutes - then suddenly froze and started a long beep? The beep does not stop until I do a hard shut down. Does that help at all?

A single beep is not in the Beep Codes? Here are the Diagnostic Lights.

The Beep Codes only occur during startup. Can you power off, open the case cover, power on and try to isolate where the beep is originating? During the beep, what color are the diagnostic lights?

The diagnostic lights stay green during freeze and beep. The beep is definitely coming from the lower right corner, which I believe is the hard drive. Perhaps my hard drive is failing? Any thoughts?

Based on this picture, the hard disk drive is on the lower right. Power the PC off, disconnect the power supply lead to the hard disk drive and power the PC on. Press F2 to enter the setup. Let is sit there for awhile, does it freeze up? if not, perhaps the hard disk drive is failing.

Read this.

If the drive is the problem, the next step would be to replace the hard drive. Is there a way to clone the contents of my old drive on to a new drive? I'd like to keep my files, programs and OS as is, if possible.

If the drive is the problem, the next step would be to replace the hard drive. Is there a way to clone the contents of my old drive on to a new drive? I'd like to keep my files, programs and OS as is, if possible.

And it copied the OS and everything? So virtually it was like having the original drive back up and running?

I have not done it. You should ask those guys in that thread.

Thanks. So if I were to use one of the "FREE" apps suggested in the other post, I simpy install the new drive as a slave drive. Then boot off the current drive, run the software, and then swap the drives once completed?

I've never cloned a drive before. Just wanted to make sure I had the steps right. Of those 3 free apps, is there one you would recommend?

What if my drive freezes up during the cloning process? Would my new drive be ruined?

Thanks. So if I were to use one of the "FREE" apps suggested in the other post, I simpy install the new drive as a slave drive. Then boot off the current drive, run the software, and then swap the drives once completed? I've never cloned a drive before. Just wanted to make sure I had the steps right. Of those 3 free apps, is there one you would recommend? What if my drive freezes up during the cloning process? Would my new drive be ruined?

Mickbo21

First, install the new drive as the secondary, image the exsisting C:/ to it.

Shut the system down, switch the data cable  to make the new hard drive the master and see if the system boots correctly. Boot the system with only the new hard drive connected.  

Remember to leave the original drive disconnected.

If the cloning fails, it will not ruin the new hard drive, but you would need to remove the failed drive and install the new HD as 'Master C:/ and carry out a manual clean reinstall of XP and load all the drivers and applications.

Sorry can't help with free cloning software, I only use Acronis, Casper and the old PowerQuest DriveImage, but if you buy a Seagate/Maxtor hard drive, they have a free copy of Acronis for use on their drives.

If you buy the retail boxed version of the hard drive, the software is included, otherwise it can be downloaded  from their website.

Bev.

Ghost "clones" the drive sector by sector, and the new partition is identical to the original, except that it is adjusted for size. Once the clone is complete you can boot as if nothing had changed.