Computer has no display, not graphics card problem

Toker

Toker

Toker

Soldato
Joined
30 Sep 2004
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I'm at a loss, I'm fixing a computer for someone...and am having severe trouble.

It arrived with no display, i.e. the monitor just displays its self test screen like there is no input.

I replaced graphics card and ram with others and it still didn't work, so I presumed it must be the motherboard. I just replaced the motherboard, and IT'S STILL DOING IT, ARGHHH

the only thing left is the cpu...any other suggestions?
 
Tried a different monitor?
Is this VGA or DVI connection?
Have you checked the pins on the video cable?
Do you see the initial boot information?
If so, have you tried booting onto safe mode (vga)?
 
My advice:

1 - Try a different cable from the graphics card to the monitor.
2 - Check that there are no bent pins at either end.
3 - Try connecting the monitor by DSUB (analogue) rather than DVI (or vice versa).
4 - Try the monitor on a known working PC.
5 - Try a known working monitor on this PC.

Hope this helps.

[J]
 
HAve you tried a different power supply? If it is faulty it may not be providing enough power to initialise the motherboard properly.
 
El_Watcher said:
HAve you tried a different power supply? If it is faulty it may not be providing enough power to initialise the motherboard properly.
Click to expand...


Yep - first place to start is usually the PSU.

A simple test is to unplug all your devices like HDDs, DVDs and case fans and the such, and see if it will boot then

Posting full details of the system spec can also be useful.

M
 
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its a fairly old pc. Definately not monitor thats the problem, i'll give unplugging all the devices a go - thanks for the advice
 
Oh yeah, the other thing... Are you getting any beeps?? (presuming system speaker attached - if not, you really need to attach one)

If there are no beeps then it really looks like PSU or mobo, and since you seem to have already ruled out mobo - that would leave PSU.

M
 
Ok - did you try without all the devices?

I'd like to think the mobo would report a duff CPU or whatever it is, but it appears not to be. Remove every device including GFx and see if it complains on boot up.

M
 
well...me and my mate were up til 3.30am trying to get it working, ram graphics card and cpu all worked in his setup so they are ruled out for sure - which just leaves psu and mobo. I got a new mobo...but is it possible the psu was trashed and fried the new mobo when it was connected to it? :(
 
It also leaves other attached devices as well - if things like HDDs are borked they could be preventing a boot too.

If you expect useful help please post your full specs (as mentioned above), and please also tell us whether you have followed the advised steps above (and what happened).

M
 
this was all done out the case with no devices attached.

its an hp machine, 2.53ghz p4, 60gb hdd, 256mb ram, an intel and an aopen mobo...both not working, i'll get their model numbers
 
Good - what were the GFx cards used?

And the PSU's used?

Do the mobo's have lights on to indicate receiving power from the PSU?

And do you get any beeps? Any activity from fans, HDDs, other devices.

M
 
the psu's used were the one that came with the hp computer, so it's probably pants. It doesn't even have an on off switch so when u plug hit it with power it will get a surge. The other was my thermaltake butterfly.

the mobos do have power and light up, one sounds a warning beep that has no meaning according to the manual (constant beep with intervals of the same time)

fans spin up but no activity can be heard from other devices, although when building out of the case the fans were sometimes not spinning up, it was quite strange.

the gfx card is a pants old one, dont know what kind, tiny memory but it works as we tried it in the other rig
 
Ok.

Beep code must have some meaning - its been programmed to do that.

http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm

This shows the meaning of beep codes, under the IBM section it seems to list the beeping as "No Power, Loose Card, or Short."

It may be a starting place.

Also:

Toker said:
an intel and an aopen mobo...both not working, i'll get their model numbers
Click to expand...

These may be useful.

I can't stress enough how much help it can be to know the exact models of components you are using - however much of a pain it is to find them out. If the GFx card doesnt have a model on it, try googling for any info from any numbers it does have.

M
 
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