Black Screen on Startup (no BIOS, nothing)

ricky116

ricky116

ricky116

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14 Jun 2012
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Hi folks, I am hoping someone will be able to help me with a problem I am having.

A few hours ago I restarted debian linux in order to switch over to Windows 7 (I use GRUB), but it didn't restart (just went to black screen) so I held down the power button to turn the PC off, and then turned it on again. Note I don't think I physically touched the PC tower when I went to restart debian.

Now, when I turn on the PC nothing is appearing on the monitor. The fans are going, the PC seems to be working normally, but the screen is just black with not even the start to access the BIOS appearing. There is no POST but I've never had a beep on startup. I have a feeling the PC is running correctly 'in the background' it is just not being displayed.

I was wondering if anyone could suggest any solutions to this problem?

I have removed everything from the PC except the PSU and GPU, with similar results. Switching the GPU to another PCI-E slot does nothing differently. Taking both RAM sticks out (leaving none) strangely makes the PC start normally (nothing on monitor still) for 10 seconds before shutting down for a second, and then restarting and doing it again and again.

The monitor connection is fine and the power cables to the components seem to be fine. The monitor has always started after boot saying "no signal detected" for a couple of seconds before that message going away and the PC info appearing. It is still doing this except the info isn't appearing, making me think the monitor is fine. I note that the light on the monitor is amber rather than green, as if it is not getting signal.

There is no VGA slot on my motherboard that I can find. At no point have I heard any POST beeps, but then I have my soundcard removed if that matters (with speaker plugged into green audio jack on mobo). The power button is working fine, which I assume means the motherboard is responsive/working.

I'm a bit at a loss of what to do, except from taking my PC / GPU into a store and asking them to test if the GPU is blown... which I'd love not to have to do.

Thanks for any help yous can give, it is much appreciated.

Richard

EDIT: I forgot to mention:

Motherboard: GA P35-DS4
GPU: Nvidia 8800GTX
CPU: Q6600 (G0 Stepping)
RAM: 2GB Ballistix 800MHz PC6400
PSU: Corsair HX650W

I got the system in like 2007 so it's getting old now, but it is/was running fine for my needs o if I can avoid forking out for a new component or 4 that'd be great..
 
Last edited:
xmonxjester said:
you tried a BIOS reset , i.e CMOS jumper on board or removing CMOS battery for a few secs ??
Click to expand...

I tried that overnight, put the motherboard battery back in this morning, no change. Never heard of a CMOS jumper?

[TW]Sponge;22881894 said:
Is the GPU fan spinning? Does sound like a fault with that rather than anything else.
Click to expand...

GPU fan is indeed spinning, just checked, so it seems to be receiving power.

Idleman said:
The mobo does`nt have onboard graphics.
Click to expand...

This is correct!

I guess my next step is to plug the monitor into a laptop to see if it is working correctly. Any other ideas?

Thanks so much for any advice!
 
Ok so I am still trying to narrow down this problem.

What does it mean that starting it with just mobo and PSU, i.e. no RAM, the PC is starting seemingly 'normally' for 8 seconds and then turning off for 1 second and trying to boot again... indefinitely?

I thought without RAM a PC would at least start and say it doesn't have enough RAM. Perhaps a problem with the motherboard?

I could go out and buy a 8400 GS for £19 down the road, but if that doesn't fix it then I'm just got a GPU I won't use, and for a bit more I could have just gave it to Currys to diagnose which component it is... ah. Frustrating!
 
So I went down to Curry's and bought a Geforce 210, as the 8400gs is only available online and I didn't want to wait...

Hey presto, it works! Seems my old GPU had just suddenly died. Well 5 years of running at ~90 degrees Celsius, I'd say it did pretty well.

Now downloading video drivers for this 210, my eyes hurt looking at the screen and aero isn't turned on... also all the tasks at the bottom right aren't showing their icons, I think that might be a consequence of no aero though, who knows.

Going to give League of Legends a whirl after to see what the damage is like. Next stop, buying a new good GPU and some RAM by the looks of it... So I'll probably be sticking around. I'd be looking to buy components that will be able to crossover to a new system further down the line instead of buying high-end for this mobo, then having to buy again to meet the demands of current mobos, hope that's possible!

Thanks for your help guys.
 
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