No video on start

  • Thread starter Thread starter JClark
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J

JClark

Hello group,
Apologies if this post should be in "hardware". A friend has a one
year old clone computer, windows XPPro sp2. I don't have the system
details, but I believe it's a late model Intel CPU. He used it for
flight simulator programs, so it's a pretty hefty system. He hasn't
turned it on for several months, but the box hasn't been moved or
damaged.
On startup, there are three long BIOS beeps, and no video at all.I
changed the monitor and that did not help. The fans are running.
I assume the problem is something very basic, since video comes up so
early in the startup process.
Does anyone have any thoughts about where to look first for the
problem? Obviously, I'd check for bad or poorly seated memory and
visually for any bad connections to the motherboard.
Is this a common problem?
Thanks for any suggestions.

Jack
 
Correct, should have posted in hardware group, but this is not something
specific to Windows XP, it is purely hardware, as the mainboard
desperately cries out to you with system beeps :)
You may want to find the mainboard's manual on the manufacturer's website
to discover what the beep pattern means exactly, this will help your
troubleshooting.

Your specific problem may lie in either:

Processor;
RAM Modules;
Video Card.

I would first try the RAM and Video card. remove these, clean the slots,
and re-seat them where they were.
Should beeping continue, you can also try with just 1 RAM stick, change
these to determine a possible faulty stick.
If you have another video card handy, same story - try it.
 
JClark said:
Hello group,
Apologies if this post should be in "hardware". A friend has a one
year old clone computer, windows XPPro sp2. I don't have the system
details, but I believe it's a late model Intel CPU. He used it for
flight simulator programs, so it's a pretty hefty system. He hasn't
turned it on for several months, but the box hasn't been moved or
damaged.
On startup, there are three long BIOS beeps, and no video at all.I
changed the monitor and that did not help. The fans are running.
I assume the problem is something very basic, since video comes up so
early in the startup process.
Does anyone have any thoughts about where to look first for the
problem? Obviously, I'd check for bad or poorly seated memory and
visually for any bad connections to the motherboard.
Is this a common problem?
Thanks for any suggestions.
Click to expand...

This is a hardware problem since your friend's computer isn't even
getting through the POST. The beeps are an audible code that tell what
is wrong. Your friend needs to go to the motherboard mftr.'s website or
look in his motherboard manual for the meaning of the audible code. If
he has an OEM machine such as a Dell or HP, he should check with the OEM
either by calling their tech support or looking on their website. That
will tell him which component has failed and you can troubleshoot
accordingly.


Malke
 
Hello group,
Apologies if this post should be in "hardware". A friend has a one
year old clone computer, windows XPPro sp2. I don't have the system
details, but I believe it's a late model Intel CPU. He used it for
flight simulator programs, so it's a pretty hefty system. He hasn't
turned it on for several months, but the box hasn't been moved or
damaged.
On startup, there are three long BIOS beeps, and no video at all.I
changed the monitor and that did not help. The fans are running.
I assume the problem is something very basic, since video comes up so
early in the startup process.
Does anyone have any thoughts about where to look first for the
problem? Obviously, I'd check for bad or poorly seated memory and
visually for any bad connections to the motherboard.
Is this a common problem?
Thanks for any suggestions.

Jack
Click to expand...
Ace and Malke,
Thanks for your suggestions and apologies for posting in the wrong
group. I know crossposting is frowned upon and decided to flip a coin
and post in this one.
I had pretty much figured out that is must be a very basic problem,
but I appreciate the specific suggestions.
It is not a branded computer, so I will have to figure out which BIOS
he has and interpret the beep code to get a clue.

Jack
 
Good luck and no problem. :)
On a side note, you may be able to deduct the manufacturer of the
motherboard by it's BIOS signature (often displayed at the top and bottom
of the very first screen, note the alpanumeric date codes)
And there may very well be a signature on the board itself, between the
ISA/PCI slots, printed in white.
Looking at some older boards today reminded me of that :)
 
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