HP Forum Archive 13

[ Return to Index | Top of Index ]

HP42S beeps all the time Message #1 Posted by John Robinson on 4 July 2003, 2:53 a.m. My 42S beeps at me instead of turning on when I press the ON key. Is this just batteries ?, or does it need a reset, if so how ??. Any help appreciated - Thanks, John

Re: HP42S beeps all the time Message #2 Posted by Thomas on 4 July 2003, 2:58 a.m., in response to message #1 by John Robinson Hello John, please search in the messages. I could remember this problem was discused a little time ago. If I remember right it was a low batterie problem. Regards Thomas

Chances are... Message #3 Posted by Vieira, Luiz C. (Brazil) on 4 July 2003, 6:06 a.m., in response to message #2 by Thomas ... you have a program that runs everytime you switch it on. Both the HP42 and the HP41 have this option: set flag 11 (SF 11) and when you turn the calculator ON, the current program automatically runs. If the program is something like this: LBL 00 SF 11 STOP GTO 00 then everytime you switch your calculator ON, flag 11 is set and the program stops. The fact is that when you switch it back OFF and later ON, the program runs automatically (flag 11 is set), executes GTO 00, sets flag 11 again and stops. When the calculator is switched ON and flag 11 is set, the beeper produces a standard tone to remind ist state. Then flag 11 is cleared and the current program automatically starts running. After you switch your calculator ON again, press these keys: (obs: [SHIFT] is the golden key) [SHIFT][PRGM] If you see: [04 GTO 00 ] then you actualy found the reason. To get rid of it: [HHIFT][PRGM] [SHIFT][CLEAR][CLP][ALPHA][ALPHA] [SHIFT][FLAGS][CF] 11 Let us know if it changed something. Best regards. Luiz (Brazil) Edited: 4 July 2003, 6:11 a.m.

Re: Chances are... Message #4 Posted by Ernie Malaga on 4 July 2003, 7:31 a.m., in response to message #3 by Vieira, Luiz C. (Brazil) Luiz: A much more "amusing" program is as follows: SF 11 OFF Now turn on flag 11 and power off the calculator. When you turn it back on, it will just turn itself off. I don't think there's a way out of this nincompoop joke except by master-clearing the calculator. -Ernie

Re: Chances are... Message #5 Posted by Vieira, Luiz C. (Brazil) on 4 July 2003, 8:36 a.m., in response to message #4 by Ernie Malaga Hi, Ernie; You bet; this is the smallest one, as far as I know. In the HP41, if you have a fast finger, you can beat it. In the HP42, about 15 times faster in some circumstances (TONE uses about the same time), I'm not sure if it can be done... Best regards. Luiz (Brazil) Edited: 4 July 2003, 8:37 a.m.

Re: Chances are... Message #6 Posted by Thibaut.be on 4 July 2003, 8:39 a.m., in response to message #4 by Ernie Malaga Yes, you can beat it : turn it on and off and on quickly enough so that the "boot" program does not have to start. This is far more difficult with a 42S as this calc is faster.

Re: HP42S beeps all the time Message #7 Posted by Erik Ehrling (Sweden) on 4 July 2003, 6:35 a.m., in response to message #1 by John Robinson I experienced exactly the same behaviour when I was upgrading one of my HP-42S to 32K. The reason which I found out was that one of the legs of the RAM chip did not have contact with the PCB (even if it appeared to have so), therefore if you have tried everything else, one last option could be to open it and check the solderings... Best regards, Erik Ehrling (Sweden)

This I was not aware about... Message #8 Posted by Vieira, Luiz C. (Brazil) on 4 July 2003, 8:43 a.m., in response to message #7 by Erik Ehrling (Sweden) Hello, Erik; man, thank you for the information. I was not aware about this fact! If the calculator becomes acting like this for no cause, of course there is no way to "emerge" a program inside it. I even thought about asking John to force a "memory clear" procedure, but I was affraid to cause important data loss inadvertently. In this case, causing a "memory clear" and confirming the calculator is still beeping will lead to no other cause but the one you mention. Thank you again. Luiz (Brazil) Edited: 4 July 2003, 8:44 a.m.

Re: HP42S beeps all the time Message #9 Posted by John Robinson on 7 July 2003, 3:28 a.m., in response to message #1 by John Robinson Thanks guys, it was just dud batteries, it's now alive and happy again.

[ Return to Index | Top of Index ]

Go back to the main exhibit hall