blank screen,doesnt boot

[underworldmagic]

hi all,

I have a computer with the following spec

Asus p4c800 e deluxe
2 x 1gb cosair xms pc3200
2 x 250gb sata hdd
Radeon 9250 graphics
400w psu


Ive used my computer for a long time with no issues, i was using it one day, just typing and my computer froze, i restarted it from the tower and got a blank screen.

From a cold start all fans are working, light on the mobo, hdds, cd drives etc all working. The screen is displaying nothing.

Ive switched montiors, changed graphics card, changed memory to one stick using new memory, each vairable done and tested each time...still get nothing on the screen.

Any ideas?

 

[underworldmagic]

did you remove the motherboard cmos battery?leave it out for half hour then put back in and try

No I havnt, I ive just taken it out, i will put it back in in 30 mins, thanks

sounds like graphics card

Ive already changed graphics cards, still have the same problem

Do you have on-board graphics to test it with?

Unfortunatly I dont, I just have a AGP graphics card slot.

 

[underworldmagic]

did you remove the motherboard cmos battery?leave it out for half hour then put back in and try

Put the battery back in after 30 mins...still the same problem, im getting nothing on the screen...any other ideas?

Thanks

 

[underworldmagic]

Yeah could be PSU try 1 stick of memory at a time

Already tried one stick at a time, also tried another stick i had uses bedfore getting the corsair xms and still the same problem.

The psu is a akasa, been using it for about a year, tested it out of the case manually and there are no probs with the psu.

Im stumped what the problem could be.

 

[underworldmagic]

Have you removed all drives and used just CPU RAM and GPU?

Grab a torch and take a good look at all the capacitors on the motherboard to check if any have popped.

Hi, just tried it with just the gpu, ram and cpu and still the same, im getting nothing on the sceen.

Ive checked the mobo and all capacitors are fine.

Any other ideas as to what could be causing this? When it first happened i was typing and the computer just froze, i restarted, and got a blank screen,.

 

[underworldmagic]

Have you checked the back of the mobo? looking for a solid powdery like substance.
Also - Is your HDD spinning? on the blank screen is tehre a flashing white cursor in the top left? or does your monitor come up with 'No Signal'?

Ive ched the back of the mobo, nothing unusual there.

Checked the hdd, took it out of the case, helf it in my hand and powered up, and its definatly spinning.

The screen is fully blank, no flashing cursor or anything. The monitor just says "no signal"

Any ideas mate?

 

[underworldmagic]

I dont think its the GPU as I have just purchased a new graphics card and tried it in my computer and get the same thing...so itll possibly be the mobo then?

 

[underworldmagic]

Have you tried removing the motherboard from the case and laying it on a non conductive surface and tried booting it that way to rule out shorting?

You could always buy a motherboard speaker to test for beep codes on boot but im unsure if OCUK sell them?

Your case may already have a speaker? What case is it?

Plug it into these headers on the mobo:

Thanks mate - Thanks for your reply, sorry for not replying earlier

I have changed the motherboard, and now im getting one beep, the computer starts up(blank screen), beeps (short beep) then shuts down on its own one second after the beep.

there is nothing displayed on the screen

I have put in 4 different sticks of memory, checked connections etc. and still just booting, beeping, then shutting down

one thing is, when i switch on the psu from the back, the computer boots on its own, without me having to use the case button...why is this?

 

[underworldmagic]

Hi, what do you mean tested manually? with hardware connected?
You may have a faulty PSU or it may be overloaded.
Do you have access to another PSU?

Hi,

Tested manually meaning i got a device from ****** which lets you connect the cables to the PSU and fire it up without a computer. and it runs fine (no hardware connected)

i dont hav access to another PSU, but i think i will need to try to rule it out, as you say, maybe overloaded?

The CPU is correctly seated, no problems there from checking.

 

[underworldmagic]

Again thanks for your continued help....i think weve cracked it!

I took out the power and restart switch wires from the mobo, and switched on the PSU, nothing happened, my mobo has a on/off and a restart switch on the mobo (fist time ive seen this) i pressed the power button and it worked!! so there must be something wrong with my front panel power wire? how can i get around this?

also all the above was done whilst my mobo was still in the case.

now, for some reason its not booting from my SATA hard drive, ive disable IDE HDD controller from bios..and also enabled the SATA controller, it boots from Floppy fist, then hard drive, but doesnt pickup the SATA hard drive....any ideas?

I still have all my info on the SATA drive from before my mobo got messed up, so it has windows already on it and all my data etc.

Thanks again for your amazing assistance.

 

[underworldmagic]

In BIOS you'll see to set the boot order priority, usually listed under something like "Boot Devices" or "Boot Priority" or along those lines, you should be able to use that to set the SATA HD to the top

As for the power wire, could be a faulty switch on the case, afaik you can replace them but not something I've done or sure how to do unfortunately.

thanks mate, did the settings in the bios and it worked!!

thanks again