Can't get my PC to work at all

matt1

matt1

matt1

Soldato
Joined
2 May 2004
Posts
2,639
Location
Nottingham
PC has been running smoothly as specced for a few weeks no problem. Had some problems with Vista x64 Ultimate so I decided to reformat and install a fresh one. Did this fine and installed all the updates etc. turned off my PC for the night and the next morning it doesn't work.

By doesn't work I mean I get no signal to my monitor. I've tried another graphics card and it does the same thing.

So far I've tried:

  1. Another graphics card
  2. One stick of RAM in each slot (individually)
  3. Resetting the motherboard CMOS battery
  4. Unplugging hard-drives

Interestingly, when I take all the RAM out and try it I don't get any beeps. It seems the motherboard is the culprit but I'm willing to try anything first as taking the motherboard out will require me to remove all the watercooling (PITA) - and I havn't had any leaks, promise :)

Willing to try anything.
 
I heard Vista 64 bit has problems booting with 4GB RAM at first, you gotta boot it with 2GB, then put in 4GB so it recognises them (also in install i think).

Also, when you say no signal to monitor, sounds like PC is working but you get a blank monitor? I've had this several times before and if thats the case, it's a connector compatibility thing most probably.
 
Yes to clarify, everything seems to power on OK (except usb keyboard and mouse) e.g. fans spinning and hard-drives whirring, just no signal to the monitor as if it's just on standby.

Correct with the >2Gb RAM problem but as mentioned I've tried with one stick as this is what I did for installing Vista.

Odd thing is I turned it off the night before as normal and it didn't start the next day, so I didn't fiddle with any cables or connections. I'm thinking some component has gone bang but can't be sure without a thorough test of each hardware component.
 
Hmm, keyboard and mouse don't start up properly until it's loading windows usually, but seeing as it should be booting properly, they should still come on.

With the monitor, it may be an adapter issue. For instance, on my old PC the monitor did this with a VGA-DVI adapter, think i swapped it for another and wasfine, but it's usually the connector that blocks out the signal.

OR

As the monitor runs through the graphcis card, a problem there would be evident, but you've said you tried changing them. Can't think whatelse you can do except borrow another monitor and plug it in, if it works then your monitor connector is borked.
 
You get no beeps when you have no RAM installed? You definetly have a speaker on the motherboard I take it? Or one attached from the case...

If you get no beeps with NO ram installed...its either cpu or motherboard normally...Try re-seating the cpu and do another cmos clear. Just strange the fact it WAS working.

You could try another psu as well, just for the hell of it really. But I really would get it to atleast give you error beeps before sticking the ram back into the motherboard.
 
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