Computer not working: nothing shows on monitor

  • Thread starter Thread starter blacklotus90
  • Start date Start date
B

blacklotus90

Ok, so I have a custom built computer that has always worked great
until today. Problem description is below. Here are the specs:
AMD Athlon 64 3700+
Asus A8N-SLI
Nvidia 6800GS
1GB (2x512) DDR400
2 internal Maxtor SATA drives (200GB+250GB), 1 external Maxtor USB
drive (250GB)
500w or 550w (can't remember) UltraXConnect modular PSU

I will preface this with a couple points:
- I have not made any recent hardware changes
- I have not made any recent software changes
- The last week or two, on occasion, my computer just turned off, but I
dismissed this as nothing
So I get home today, and I turn on my computer. The lights come on,
fans, drives spin up, usb devices get power, everything is normal,
except that my monitor stays black. I restart the computer, same thing
happens. I try disconnecting and reconnecting the VGA cord, nothing. I
use a DVI-VGA adapter and still nothing. I try removing my graphics
card and re-socketing it, nothing!!

Believing it may be a PSU problem (too much power being used), I
disconnect my internal CD drive and another 4-pin molex that I used for
some lights, nothing helped. I replug all power cables, still nothing.

I am really aggravated. It sounds like it could be one of three things,
but I am also looking for suggestions as to other causes.
1. A graphics card hardware problem
2. A motherboard problem; PCI express socket maybe shorted out
3. A PSU problem of some kind

I do not have another pci-e card I can use to test the first two, so I
will ask friends for one to use, but this may take a very long time or
they may not have one. I am dependent on my computer for many things I
do. I really need help on this one, and I really appreciate it.
 
blacklotus90 said:
Believing it may be a PSU problem (too much power being used), I
disconnect my internal CD drive and another 4-pin molex that I used for
some lights, nothing helped. I replug all power cables, still nothing.

I am really aggravated. It sounds like it could be one of three things,
but I am also looking for suggestions as to other causes.
1. A graphics card hardware problem
2. A motherboard problem; PCI express socket maybe shorted out
3. A PSU problem of some kind

I do not have another pci-e card I can use to test the first two, so I
will ask friends for one to use, but this may take a very long time or
they may not have one. I am dependent on my computer for many things I
do. I really need help on this one, and I really appreciate it.
Click to expand...

Disconnect everything repeat everything that is not absolutely
essential to getting the computer to start the Power On Self Test.

That includes:
- all accessory cards except the video card
- all repeat all repeat all disk drives.
- all repeat all USB devices
- keyboard and mouse

Leave the internal speaker connected.

Now turn on the computer and see what happens. If you do not see the
Power On Self Test (or Manufacturer's Startup Logo) and if you do not
hear any beeps from the computer then you have a major component
failure in one of the following:
- Power Supply
- Motherboard
- CPU

If those 3 components are all working then you will at least get some
sort of output, even if it just just a series of beeps indicating a
video or RAM failure.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."
 
'blacklotus90' posted with the subject: "Computer not working: nothing
shows on monitor"

A decent 500 Watt power supply should be fine for your system.

The BIOS in the system will either display codes on motherboard mounted LEDs
or beep a code on a motherboard beeper IF the hardware detects a failure
when you turn the system on. Have you checked for a beep code or LED code?

Try this. Turn your system off. Unplug the system. Remove the display
adapter. Reattach the system to AC power. Turn the system back on. If the
system is working correctly it should beep a code or display a code on LEDs
indicating that there is no display adapter. IF you do NOT get such a code,
there is a failure in the hardware PRIOR to the check for the display
adapter.

Since the computer system is important to you, take it to a qualified
computer repair shop or contact the builder.

The problem CAN NOT BE an operating system, since you should get some kind
of display before the operating system is invoked.

Phil Weldon

| Ok, so I have a custom built computer that has always worked great
| until today. Problem description is below. Here are the specs:
| AMD Athlon 64 3700+
| Asus A8N-SLI
| Nvidia 6800GS
| 1GB (2x512) DDR400
| 2 internal Maxtor SATA drives (200GB+250GB), 1 external Maxtor USB
| drive (250GB)
| 500w or 550w (can't remember) UltraXConnect modular PSU
|
| I will preface this with a couple points:
| - I have not made any recent hardware changes
| - I have not made any recent software changes
| - The last week or two, on occasion, my computer just turned off, but I
| dismissed this as nothing
| So I get home today, and I turn on my computer. The lights come on,
| fans, drives spin up, usb devices get power, everything is normal,
| except that my monitor stays black. I restart the computer, same thing
| happens. I try disconnecting and reconnecting the VGA cord, nothing. I
| use a DVI-VGA adapter and still nothing. I try removing my graphics
| card and re-socketing it, nothing!!
|
| Believing it may be a PSU problem (too much power being used), I
| disconnect my internal CD drive and another 4-pin molex that I used for
| some lights, nothing helped. I replug all power cables, still nothing.
|
| I am really aggravated. It sounds like it could be one of three things,
| but I am also looking for suggestions as to other causes.
| 1. A graphics card hardware problem
| 2. A motherboard problem; PCI express socket maybe shorted out
| 3. A PSU problem of some kind
|
| I do not have another pci-e card I can use to test the first two, so I
| will ask friends for one to use, but this may take a very long time or
| they may not have one. I am dependent on my computer for many things I
| do. I really need help on this one, and I really appreciate it.
|
 
I don't see where you considered maybe the monitor might be bad. Don't jump
to the conclusion that it's something inside the PC. Monitors fail too.
It's about the easiest thing to check.

G
 
Phil said:
'blacklotus90' posted with the subject: "Computer not working: nothing
shows on monitor"

The BIOS in the system will either display codes on motherboard mounted LEDs
or beep a code on a motherboard beeper IF the hardware detects a failure
when you turn the system on. Have you checked for a beep code or LED code?

Try this. Turn your system off. Unplug the system. Remove the display
adapter. Reattach the system to AC power. Turn the system back on. If the
system is working correctly it should beep a code or display a code on LEDs
indicating that there is no display adapter. IF you do NOT get such a code,
there is a failure in the hardware PRIOR to the check for the display
adapter.
Click to expand...

Dear Phil,

a friend emailed me this morning about his PC: AMD 64, A8N-SLI
premium board, PC Power/Cooling PSU, all top quality components--exact
same symptoms.

Seemed to me like some sort of BIOS/CMOS glitch, so I asked him to
clear the CMOS, take out the CMOS battery, leave it unplugged for a
while--he hooked it back up, and it started up fine.

He said the only thing he could think of was that Windows XP
downloaded some updates automatically, and they were either installed
at the last shutdown, or were going to be installed with that next
start up...all of my PCs did auto updates fine, but, I wonder if that
is somehow related to Blacklotus's issue.

HTH,

BC
 
'BC' wrote, in part:
| He said the only thing he could think of was that Windows XP
| downloaded some updates automatically, and they were either installed
| at the last shutdown, or were going to be installed with that next
| start up...all of my PCs did auto updates fine, but, I wonder if that
| is somehow related to Blacklotus's issue.
_____

The operating system can NOT affect initial display BEFORE the operating
system is loaded.

That said, IF the motherboard has a built-in display adapter, and IF the
display setting for video were set to use the on-board display adapter
instead of the add-in adapter, then there would be no video output from the
add-in adapter. This assumes that your friend reset the options in the BIOS
correctly after clearing it.

Phil Weldon

| Phil Weldon wrote:
| > 'blacklotus90' posted with the subject: "Computer not working: nothing
| > shows on monitor"
| >
| > The BIOS in the system will either display codes on motherboard mounted
LEDs
| > or beep a code on a motherboard beeper IF the hardware detects a failure
| > when you turn the system on. Have you checked for a beep code or LED
code?
| >
| > Try this. Turn your system off. Unplug the system. Remove the display
| > adapter. Reattach the system to AC power. Turn the system back on. If
the
| > system is working correctly it should beep a code or display a code on
LEDs
| > indicating that there is no display adapter. IF you do NOT get such a
code,
| > there is a failure in the hardware PRIOR to the check for the display
| > adapter.
|
| Dear Phil,
|
| a friend emailed me this morning about his PC: AMD 64, A8N-SLI
| premium board, PC Power/Cooling PSU, all top quality components--exact
| same symptoms.
|
| Seemed to me like some sort of BIOS/CMOS glitch, so I asked him to
| clear the CMOS, take out the CMOS battery, leave it unplugged for a
| while--he hooked it back up, and it started up fine.
|
| He said the only thing he could think of was that Windows XP
| downloaded some updates automatically, and they were either installed
| at the last shutdown, or were going to be installed with that next
| start up...all of my PCs did auto updates fine, but, I wonder if that
| is somehow related to Blacklotus's issue.
|
| HTH,
|
| BC
 
'GMach3' wrote:
| I don't see where you considered maybe the monitor might be bad. Don't
jump
| to the conclusion that it's something inside the PC. Monitors fail too.
| It's about the easiest thing to check.
_____

Good point.

Phil Weldon

|I don't see where you considered maybe the monitor might be bad. Don't
jump
| to the conclusion that it's something inside the PC. Monitors fail too.
| It's about the easiest thing to check.
|
| G
|
 
Phil said:
'GMach3' wrote:
| I don't see where you considered maybe the monitor might be bad. Don't
jump
| to the conclusion that it's something inside the PC. Monitors fail too.
| It's about the easiest thing to check.
Click to expand...

The monitor is not broken, I just tested with my old CRT and that
didn't get any signal either. I haven't yet tried resetting my
BIOS/CMOS like you said. I will try this tomorrow morning. It seems
interesting to me that these kind of symptoms could be caused by a CMOS
error, but I'm willing to try anything so I don't have to go through
the whole Warranty-RMA-Return nonsense which can take months.
He said the only thing he could think of was that Windows XP
downloaded some updates automatically, and they were either installed
at the last shutdown, or were going to be installed with that next
start up...all of my PCs did auto updates fine
Click to expand...

I don't see how this could be anything to do with automatic updates, if
it did, I would at least be able to see POST and have the chance to
boot into knoppix etc.
Try this. Turn your system off. Unplug the system. Remove the display
adapter. Reattach the system to AC power. Turn the system back on. If the
system is working correctly it should beep a code or display a code on LEDs
indicating that there is no display adapter. IF you do NOT get such a code,
there is a failure in the hardware PRIOR to the check for the display
adapter.
Click to expand...

I have no internal speaker in my computer, and I don't believe my
motherboard displays LED codes either, I have read throught the manual
before and there are two LED's, both having to do with power input.
 
Also, if by video adapter you mean onboard video, the motherboard
definitely does not have and never has had onboard video, so if this
would render the BIOS fix pointless, please do say.
 
Phil said:
'BC' wrote, in part:
| He said the only thing he could think of was that Windows XP
| downloaded some updates automatically, and they were either installed
| at the last shutdown, or were going to be installed with that next
| start up...all of my PCs did auto updates fine, but, I wonder if that
| is somehow related to Blacklotus's issue.
_____

The operating system can NOT affect initial display BEFORE the operating
system is loaded.
Click to expand...

Dear Phil,

hmm, microcode update?

http://cquirke.mvps.org/sp2intel.htm

***quote***

What is "microcode"?

Anything sufficiently complex that has been handcrafted by humans will
contain errors. Modern software has millions of lines of source code,
and modern processors have millions of transistors, so this applies to
both.

Microsoft Operating Systems arrive on CD that is built to a particular
Service Pack level, and errors found after that was made will be fixed
via patches downloaded from their web site.

....processors are manufactured to a particular stepping level, and
errors found after that was made may be fixed via microcode updates
sent to the processor, typically by BIOS on every system startup.
BIOS is well-positioned to do this, as the content doesn't require a
disk to survive or be accessed, and BIOS POST code will always be run,
no matter what OS or disk drive is being booted up.

***end quote***

When my friend asked earlier today, I thought that maybe there had
been some sort of power surge or sag that might have affected his PC,
since he does not have a UPS/uninterruptible power supply backup--he
is getting one this weekend--or, BIOS gremlin of some sort--but, I
didn't (and still don't) know...

In Blacklotus's original post, he mentions he has a modular power
supply--loose cables/loose connection somewhere, partial connection
that doesn't allow for a full open circuit, etc....

Dead monitor as mentioned....excellent idea....

Will be interesting to see what answer is...

BC
 
'BC wrote, in part:
| hmm, microcode update?
_____

No, the EEROM memory in the BIOS is not affected by power condition.
Operating System updates and microcode updates are made in entirely
different ways. Never make a problem more complicated than it is.

Phil Weldon

| Phil Weldon wrote:
| > 'BC' wrote, in part:
| > | He said the only thing he could think of was that Windows XP
| > | downloaded some updates automatically, and they were either installed
| > | at the last shutdown, or were going to be installed with that next
| > | start up...all of my PCs did auto updates fine, but, I wonder if that
| > | is somehow related to Blacklotus's issue.
| > _____
| >
| > The operating system can NOT affect initial display BEFORE the operating
| > system is loaded.
|
| Dear Phil,
|
| hmm, microcode update?
|
| http://cquirke.mvps.org/sp2intel.htm
|
| ***quote***
|
| What is "microcode"?
|
| Anything sufficiently complex that has been handcrafted by humans will
| contain errors. Modern software has millions of lines of source code,
| and modern processors have millions of transistors, so this applies to
| both.
|
| Microsoft Operating Systems arrive on CD that is built to a particular
| Service Pack level, and errors found after that was made will be fixed
| via patches downloaded from their web site.
|
| ...processors are manufactured to a particular stepping level, and
| errors found after that was made may be fixed via microcode updates
| sent to the processor, typically by BIOS on every system startup.
| BIOS is well-positioned to do this, as the content doesn't require a
| disk to survive or be accessed, and BIOS POST code will always be run,
| no matter what OS or disk drive is being booted up.
|
| ***end quote***
|
| When my friend asked earlier today, I thought that maybe there had
| been some sort of power surge or sag that might have affected his PC,
| since he does not have a UPS/uninterruptible power supply backup--he
| is getting one this weekend--or, BIOS gremlin of some sort--but, I
| didn't (and still don't) know...
|
| In Blacklotus's original post, he mentions he has a modular power
| supply--loose cables/loose connection somewhere, partial connection
| that doesn't allow for a full open circuit, etc....
|
| Dead monitor as mentioned....excellent idea....
|
| Will be interesting to see what answer is...
|
| BC
 
'blacklotus90' wrote, in part:
| The monitor is not broken, I just tested with my old CRT and that
| didn't get any signal either. I haven't yet tried resetting my
| BIOS/CMOS like you said.
_____

I did not suggest you reset your CMOS.
Don't do it.
Your problem can NOT have anything to do with automatic Windows XP updates.

I did not suggest your system had an internal speaker. If it does NOT have
an LED readout, then there MUST be a beeper on the motherboard. It would be
a small plastic cylinder not much larger than a pencil eraser mounted on
end. There will be a small hole in the top. Without either a readout or a
beeper there is no way to diagnose a problem that occurs BEFORE the video
system comes up. Try, as I suggested, removing the display adapter card and
then start the system. Listen for beeps. If you don't hear any, then
warranty repair or a repair shop is your best next move. Figure out how
much your time is worth, how much a working computer is worth, and likely
you can fix it yourself. Try to work in a logical progression, and read any
advice CAREFULLY.

Phil Weldon


|
| Phil Weldon wrote:
| > 'GMach3' wrote:
| > | I don't see where you considered maybe the monitor might be bad.
Don't
| > jump
| > | to the conclusion that it's something inside the PC. Monitors fail
too.
| > | It's about the easiest thing to check.
|
| The monitor is not broken, I just tested with my old CRT and that
| didn't get any signal either. I haven't yet tried resetting my
| BIOS/CMOS like you said. I will try this tomorrow morning. It seems
| interesting to me that these kind of symptoms could be caused by a CMOS
| error, but I'm willing to try anything so I don't have to go through
| the whole Warranty-RMA-Return nonsense which can take months.
|
| >He said the only thing he could think of was that Windows XP
| >downloaded some updates automatically, and they were either installed
| >at the last shutdown, or were going to be installed with that next
| >start up...all of my PCs did auto updates fine
|
| I don't see how this could be anything to do with automatic updates, if
| it did, I would at least be able to see POST and have the chance to
| boot into knoppix etc.
|
| >Try this. Turn your system off. Unplug the system. Remove the display
| >adapter. Reattach the system to AC power. Turn the system back on. If
the
| >system is working correctly it should beep a code or display a code on
LEDs
| >indicating that there is no display adapter. IF you do NOT get such a
code,
| >there is a failure in the hardware PRIOR to the check for the display
| >adapter.
|
| I have no internal speaker in my computer, and I don't believe my
| motherboard displays LED codes either, I have read throught the manual
| before and there are two LED's, both having to do with power input.
|
 
Normally when you press the power on, there will be a beep or two to
indicate the pc is starting up.
If you press the power, only light on, drive spin and no beep, then your
mobo is dead.
If you hear a beep and nothing continue, your PSU or g/c or HD is dead.
If you hear the beep/beeps, things start, heard the HD is running but
nothing shows, monitor is dead.
I think you stuck on first stage, and that means your mobo is dead already.
Could there be a black-out in your area or a thunderstorm nearly? It might
be electrocuted.
 
install the video crad in the lower pci-e slot.

I had an A8N-sli that had the top pci-e slot die.
 
blacklotus90 said:
Ok, so I have a custom built computer that has always worked great
until today. Problem description is below. Here are the specs:
AMD Athlon 64 3700+
Asus A8N-SLI
Nvidia 6800GS
1GB (2x512) DDR400
2 internal Maxtor SATA drives (200GB+250GB), 1 external Maxtor USB
drive (250GB)
500w or 550w (can't remember) UltraXConnect modular PSU

I will preface this with a couple points:
- I have not made any recent hardware changes
- I have not made any recent software changes
- The last week or two, on occasion, my computer just turned off, but I
dismissed this as nothing
So I get home today, and I turn on my computer. The lights come on,
fans, drives spin up, usb devices get power, everything is normal,
except that my monitor stays black. I restart the computer, same thing
happens. I try disconnecting and reconnecting the VGA cord, nothing. I
use a DVI-VGA adapter and still nothing. I try removing my graphics
card and re-socketing it, nothing!!

Believing it may be a PSU problem (too much power being used), I
disconnect my internal CD drive and another 4-pin molex that I used for
some lights, nothing helped. I replug all power cables, still nothing.

I am really aggravated. It sounds like it could be one of three things,
but I am also looking for suggestions as to other causes.
1. A graphics card hardware problem
2. A motherboard problem; PCI express socket maybe shorted out
3. A PSU problem of some kind

I do not have another pci-e card I can use to test the first two, so I
will ask friends for one to use, but this may take a very long time or
they may not have one. I am dependent on my computer for many things I
do. I really need help on this one, and I really appreciate it.
Click to expand...

Holy crap, this is the longest thread I've seen where nobody has the right
answer for the OP. Simply, replace the bad power supply. The mainboard is
not receiving a power_OK signal, and so it never starts. That's because the
power is NOT OK. You had a warning that this would happen, as your system
started intermittently shutting down. Well-made power supplies will do that
when the voltages start drifting out of spec.

Note that a power supply can be bad and still allow certain components to
run. -Dave
 
Holy crap, this is the longest thread I've seen where nobody has the right
answer for the OP. Simply, replace the bad power supply. The mainboard is
not receiving a power_OK signal, and so it never starts. That's because the
power is NOT OK. You had a warning that this would happen, as your system
started intermittently shutting down. Well-made power supplies will do that
when the voltages start drifting out of spec.

Note that a power supply can be bad and still allow certain components to
run. -Dave
Click to expand...

Might want to just check the connections on the power supply first. Those
modular plugs can jiggle loose. (A good reason to stay away from them.)
 
the KEY to the problem is turn itself off several times in the past couple of weeks.
computers do not just shutdown for NO reason.
suspect you have overheated and FRIED something.
might be time to spend a few bucks adn get it checked by a PRO.




(e-mail address removed)



Ok, so I have a custom built computer that has always worked great
until today. Problem description is below. Here are the specs:
AMD Athlon 64 3700+
Asus A8N-SLI
Nvidia 6800GS
1GB (2x512) DDR400
2 internal Maxtor SATA drives (200GB+250GB), 1 external Maxtor USB
drive (250GB)
500w or 550w (can't remember) UltraXConnect modular PSU

I will preface this with a couple points:
- I have not made any recent hardware changes
- I have not made any recent software changes
- The last week or two, on occasion, my computer just turned off, but I
dismissed this as nothing
So I get home today, and I turn on my computer. The lights come on,
fans, drives spin up, usb devices get power, everything is normal,
except that my monitor stays black. I restart the computer, same thing
happens. I try disconnecting and reconnecting the VGA cord, nothing. I
use a DVI-VGA adapter and still nothing. I try removing my graphics
card and re-socketing it, nothing!!

Believing it may be a PSU problem (too much power being used), I
disconnect my internal CD drive and another 4-pin molex that I used for
some lights, nothing helped. I replug all power cables, still nothing.

I am really aggravated. It sounds like it could be one of three things,
but I am also looking for suggestions as to other causes.
1. A graphics card hardware problem
2. A motherboard problem; PCI express socket maybe shorted out
3. A PSU problem of some kind

I do not have another pci-e card I can use to test the first two, so I
will ask friends for one to use, but this may take a very long time or
they may not have one. I am dependent on my computer for many things I
do. I really need help on this one, and I really appreciate it.
 
Normally when you press the power on, there will be a beep or two to
indicate the pc is starting up.
If you press the power, only light on, drive spin and no beep, then your
Click to expand...

As far as a beeper, after reading the motherboard manual I found out
there is no LED code, nor a beeper. It states that to hear warning
beeps you have to have a speaker hooked up to 4 pins on the panel
pin-set thing. I dug the speaker out of my Linux box, but it was a
different connector format.
install the video crad in the lower pci-e slot.
I had an A8N-sli that had the top pci-e slot die.
Click to expand...

Isn't that bad, I thought the mobo is made so that the second slot is
for SLI cards only. Plus, if that is the case, I would still want a new
motherboard.
Simply, replace the bad power supply. The mainboard is
not receiving a power_OK signal, and so it never starts. That's because the
power is NOT OK.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I cannot use the PSU from my linux box to test this, as
it is only 200W. I may be able to borrow a PSU from a friend, though.
suspect you have overheated and FRIED something.
Click to expand...

Well, I doubt I fried anything, as I keep my PC on a surge protector. I
never overclock, and I also keep a watch on system temps with my temp
gauge and the sysfan utility. I have a whole bunch of fans in my case,
so it is probably not caused by an overheat.
might be time to spend a few bucks adn get it checked by a PRO
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm really close to calling in the 1 year onsite tech support
that came with my compute, but it can be such a hassle, so I would love
to solve this some better way.
 
They still under warranty? I never really depend on those tech support, they
will take back your machine and said this and that damage and it is not
their fault and you have to pay a high price which they said it is ORIGINAL,
even when you agree to pay ,it take weeks to repair.
Look for local IT shop if you want a quick solution.
 
'Rayson' wrote, in part:
| Normally when you press the power on, there will be a beep or two to
| indicate the pc is starting up.
| If you press the power, only light on, drive spin and no beep, then your
| mobo is dead.
| If you hear a beep and nothing continue, your PSU or g/c or HD is dead.
| If you hear the beep/beeps, things start, heard the HD is running but
| nothing shows, monitor is dead.
_____

Motherboard 'beeps' are a much better diagnostic tool than you incorrectly
describe. There is a 'beep code' that identifies the problem and the stage
in POST where the error occurs. The list of codes include CPU, Memory,
CMOS, Display Adapter, and many other problems. The two major manufacturers
of BIOS chips for X86 compatible computers have different codes (and there
may be variants). 'Beep code' translation lists are available on the
Internet (try Phoenix and Award, the two BIOS manufacturers.)

Phil Weldon

| Normally when you press the power on, there will be a beep or two to
| indicate the pc is starting up.
| If you press the power, only light on, drive spin and no beep, then your
| mobo is dead.
| If you hear a beep and nothing continue, your PSU or g/c or HD is dead.
| If you hear the beep/beeps, things start, heard the HD is running but
| nothing shows, monitor is dead.
| I think you stuck on first stage, and that means your mobo is dead
already.
| Could there be a black-out in your area or a thunderstorm nearly? It
might
| be electrocuted.
| "Phil Weldon" <[email protected]> ¼¶¼g©ó¶l¥ó·s»D
| :[email protected]...
| > 'blacklotus90' wrote, in part:
| > | The monitor is not broken, I just tested with my old CRT and that
| > | didn't get any signal either. I haven't yet tried resetting my
| > | BIOS/CMOS like you said.
| > _____
| >
| > I did not suggest you reset your CMOS.
| > Don't do it.
| > Your problem can NOT have anything to do with automatic Windows XP
| updates.
| >
| > I did not suggest your system had an internal speaker. If it does NOT
| have
| > an LED readout, then there MUST be a beeper on the motherboard. It
would
| be
| > a small plastic cylinder not much larger than a pencil eraser mounted on
| > end. There will be a small hole in the top. Without either a readout
or
| a
| > beeper there is no way to diagnose a problem that occurs BEFORE the
video
| > system comes up. Try, as I suggested, removing the display adapter card
| and
| > then start the system. Listen for beeps. If you don't hear any, then
| > warranty repair or a repair shop is your best next move. Figure out how
| > much your time is worth, how much a working computer is worth, and
likely
| > you can fix it yourself. Try to work in a logical progression, and read
| any
| > advice CAREFULLY.
| >
| > Phil Weldon
| >
| >
| > | > |
| > | Phil Weldon wrote:
| > | > 'GMach3' wrote:
| > | > | I don't see where you considered maybe the monitor might be bad.
| > Don't
| > | > jump
| > | > | to the conclusion that it's something inside the PC. Monitors
fail
| > too.
| > | > | It's about the easiest thing to check.
| > |
| > | The monitor is not broken, I just tested with my old CRT and that
| > | didn't get any signal either. I haven't yet tried resetting my
| > | BIOS/CMOS like you said. I will try this tomorrow morning. It seems
| > | interesting to me that these kind of symptoms could be caused by a
CMOS
| > | error, but I'm willing to try anything so I don't have to go through
| > | the whole Warranty-RMA-Return nonsense which can take months.
| > |
| > | >He said the only thing he could think of was that Windows XP
| > | >downloaded some updates automatically, and they were either installed
| > | >at the last shutdown, or were going to be installed with that next
| > | >start up...all of my PCs did auto updates fine
| > |
| > | I don't see how this could be anything to do with automatic updates,
if
| > | it did, I would at least be able to see POST and have the chance to
| > | boot into knoppix etc.
| > |
| > | >Try this. Turn your system off. Unplug the system. Remove the
| display
| > | >adapter. Reattach the system to AC power. Turn the system back on.
| If
| > the
| > | >system is working correctly it should beep a code or display a code
on
| > LEDs
| > | >indicating that there is no display adapter. IF you do NOT get such
a
| > code,
| > | >there is a failure in the hardware PRIOR to the check for the display
| > | >adapter.
| > |
| > | I have no internal speaker in my computer, and I don't believe my
| > | motherboard displays LED codes either, I have read throught the manual
| > | before and there are two LED's, both having to do with power input.
| > |
| >
| >
|
|
 
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