Graphics card or something else?

  • Thread starter Thread starter newtechie
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newtechie

Hi all - I'm trying to fix a friend's pc but I can't see anything on the
monitor. I've tried 2 different monitors with the same results. The only
thing I get is the green monitor light blinking. The cord is plugged in
snuggly so I'm thinking his graphics card has called it quits. Could this
the problem? The computer is a Dell Dimensions L500CX. I think it's an
onboard card.

Would it be safe to tell him to go buy another card or just get another
computer?

Thanks,
newtechie
 
I tried 2 different monitors already, if that's what you're talking about.

First try a different video cable.

Steven
 
If the video is onboard, and you purchase one to install, don't forget to
disable the video on the motherboard. Before you go and spend lots of $$ for
a new card, go to the Dell site and ask questions. If no answers, buy and $10
card at a used shop and try it. It could be that the motherboard is bad.

In the previous response trying another video cable was suggested. Many
monitors have separate video cables, some are made part of the monitor and
are not removeable.

Could it be that the video has been disabled in the BIOS? Might check there.
User manual should tell you how to get there. Many systems you press the del
key a few times while the system is booting. Other systems have other key
combos.
 
Thanks for your response. I'll just suggest to him to go and buy another
card because I can't get into the bios if I can't see anything on the
screen. The monitors I tried had 1 cable removable and the other wasn't
removable.

newtechie
 
Before you do that, just in case someone got into the BIOS, reset the BIOS.
Sometimes there is a jumper to set, or remove & reinsert the battery,
or...... Find out what the sequence is for this system. Might even say on the
motherboard. EXAMPLE ONLY ... If it is a jumper setting there will generally
be 3 pins with a jumper covering two. Like pins 1&2, change the jumper to 2&3
and power on then off. Reset the jumpers to 1&2. This would bring the system
back to factory settings.

Don
 
Check with the manual or system manufacturer for the correct procedure. It
will not mess up the system. If done correctly, it will return the BIOS to
the factory specs.

What I gave was an EXAMPLE ONLY.

Don
 
New

Does the computer appear to start ok?.. do you get the single bleep?.. does
the power light come on?.. do you see activity from the hard drive LED?..
with the case open, are the fans rotating?.. can you feel slight vibration
from the hard drive?..
 
Hi Mike,

I do not get a single beep (bleep). The power light comes on but it goes
off and there is no activity from hard drive LED. I see and hear the
fans(cpu and power supply) going. No vibration from the hard drive.

newtechie
 
New

In that case, it is way more than no video output.. no bleep at start up, no
power LED, no HDD activity or LED points to the motherboard being dead.. a
replacement is in order..
 
Ok I'll let him know that. Before I do though, do you think it would hurt
to try another hard drive?

newtechie
 
New

99.99% of all computers beep to tell that all is ok.. the power LED does NOT
flash on then off.. the HDD activity light flashes.. the hard drive has a
detectable vibration as it spins..

The computer in question has none of the above attributes.. you are welcome
to try another hard drive if you like.. it will either miraculously make the
above all work again, or it will have zero effect..
 
Thanks for all your responses Mike. I'll just tell him to get another
board, but do you think Dell motherboards can be removed and replaced with
something else?

newtechie
 
New

That depends on the age of the unit.. older Dells did not use ATX
motherboards and the pinout on the power supply was not standard.. look at
the layout on the back.. if it looks more or less identical to the ATX
motherboards available, then you can swap the Dell board out for another
make..

The power supply may be an issue.. just to be on the safe side, either ask
Dell, or just replace that too..
 
Just another thing to add:

I believe that Dell computers have a set of 4 status lights somewhere on the
case (usually on the back). If everything is OK, they should all show as
green. Howver, if there is a combination of orange and green lights, then
there may be something wrong. The manual should show what each combinaton
means. If you don't have the manual, maybe it can be found on Dell's webpage.
 
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