Which component is messed up:

Jonny[uk] · 27 Aug 2006 at 20:06

Ok, i have two systems:

System 1:
Socket A AGP Motherboard, RAM, Geforce 6800, HDD, Slave HDD, Monitor

System 2:
Socket A AGP Motherboard, RAM, Geforce mx440, HDD, Monitor

and one CPU, an AMD Duron 1.2ghz.

The CPU was originally in system 2, and i swapped it to system 1. All was fine. I then swap it back and for some reason i have no display on the monitor (The monitor goes into standby mode). I tried 2 spare monitors and a spare Geforce 5600 in different configurations and still no display. I used system 2 with system 1's HDD, and vice versa; no display. I then put system 1 back as it had been prior and still no display. I even bought a new socket A CPU, but still no display.

The only thing i can think of is that system 2 had some kind of corruption and passed it onto system 1, and it must be in either the HDD or the motherboard, but system 1's mobo never touched system 2's, and the same for the HDD. Any ideas on what might be causing the problem?

Jonny[uk] · 27 Aug 2006 at 21:35

I've gone through the guide to booting up on this forum and got to the part where you connect the graphics card and monitor. No display. Indicating that the AGP slot is damaged. However, the AGP slot was never tampered with, only the CPU was swapped. Any ideas?

Edit: In fact, this problem happened on BOTH motherboards AT THE SAME TIME.

VeNT · 27 Aug 2006 at 21:40

its simple realy,
you've 1 working system
note down each component you're going to try, then switch them into the working system one at a time (starting with garphics card, then ram, then hard drives) if NON of them show the same error then its the motherboard.
also check if you have to reset the Cmos on your non working systems motherboard.

and why arn't you folding?

Jonny[uk] · 27 Aug 2006 at 21:47

I followed this:

1. Dismantle your PC completely, taking anti-static precautions. Take the motherboard out of the case and place it on a non-conductive surface. Remove everything excpt the processor, heatsink and memory.
2. Connect the power supply to the motherboard and speaker. Press the on switch. Do the heatsink fans turn? Can your hear any BIOS beeps? If not, remove the RAM and try again.
3. If the board seems to be recieving power, try connectiong the graphics card. DO this carefully, ensuring that you don't stress the PCI/AGP/PCI-e slot. Connect your monitor and power up the PC. Do you get a picture? If not, replace the graphics card and try again. If this fails the problem may be your PCI/AGP/PCI-e slot.
4. Now you can recieve power and a picture, so place the motherboard back in the case, lining it up correctly with the spacers to avoid shorting out. Reconnect the power, switch, speaker and graphics card and start the computer again to check taht it still works.
5. Connect your hard drives and start the computer. Are they detected? Does it begin to boot correctly? If not, check your BIOS settings, jumper configurations and trysubstituting the drives themselves.
6. Now you have a system that can boot, connect your remaining PCI cards and try starting again. If all goes well, you can reassemble the computer, connect your periphals and get it up and running once more.

And got to number 3. No display. However, this is on both systems, and for some reason, happened on both before anything other than the CPU was touched, which is why i am confused. At least it's not my HDD; 200 gb of data to lose is heavy.

Edit: You say i have one working system, but i think you mean right now. Right now, neither work, even when restored how they were. System 1 now suffers no display, after having parts used to try and find problem in system 2.