Computer won't turn on correctly.

[AnArcticAnt]

Okay, last night something weird happened. I was playing Oblivion, and entered the inventory menu. Then, as I had to leave for about an hour I decided to hit the esc-key aswell (I don't know why, since the game was paused anyway - I just did it on a reflex). When I came back, an hour or so later, the computer refused to respond in any way. Escape-key - nothing. Alt+tab - nothing. Ctrl+alt+del - nothing. I tried to shut it off and turn it back on. The blue lamp on the front lit up, and the fan could be heard going. Then I noticed that the monitor started resting (a note came up, "no signal input", and it went to sleep) and nothing happened. I hit the restart button (it has two buttons - one ordinary "power" that you press to turn it on and off, and one smaller restart button that immediately reboots the machine). Pressing these had the ordinary effect - turning the computer on and off/rebooting it. However, nothing else happened - the computer refused to actually get going, and I noticed that the "power-up beep" wasn't heard.

 

I don't know what else to tell you - I can't quite remember the specifications of it, except that it's an old rig with Windows XP Home and a measly 512 RAM, but if you have any questions, go ahead and ask, and I'll do my best to tell you. Please help me, TESNexus. You're my only hope.

[Illiad86]

Hmmm...doesn't sound too good there hun :( So you turn it on and you get no display at all? What graphics card do you have? Do you have a spare graphics card or onboard you can plug into to? Kinda sounds like you might have cooked the card :(

 

Give it a good cleaning...re-seat the graphics card, RAM, check the cables. You could also clear the CMOS and see if that helps at all if you are getting no beep.

[AnArcticAnt]

I don't know what graphics card I've got, but I do know it's onboard. As for cleaning it, I opened it when I noticed something was wrong and did the best I could to clean it out (vaccuuming it,cleaning it out with one of those cloths made for screens and CDs, etcetera), but it didn't seem to help.

 

And what's a CMOS? Also, like I said I can't - as far as I know - check its specs, and can only go from memory...

[Illiad86]

Uhh lol..hard to explain I guess. But it's a jumper located on the motherboard...it clears the BIOS. *scratches head* I wouldn't do it if you don't know what it is lol. Someone else can explain it better than I can, I guess.

 

So you turn it on, and no display? Nothing? No POST screen (black screen before Windows loads)?

 

Hmm...my buddy had a similar problem a few days ago. He was going about playing his game and decided to install the newest drivers for the graphics card. That went as planned, rebooted, still powered up, but no display. He did all that I know of (cleaning, re-seating, cable check, clear CMOS, etc.)...he finally checked the graphics card in a different motherboard...graphics card was dead :( But onboard...hmmm I'm rather stumped.

 

Vacuuming it? Urgh...I hope you didn't suck out a jumper lol

[AnArcticAnt]

Nope, absolutely nothing. I don't think it's a problem with the graphics card (just a hunch) I think it's beyond that. It's as if the computer doesn't actually do anything - l turn it on, and then it just kinda sits there. whirring and buzzing, with all the little lights flashing, but without anything actually happening.

 

Also, I just realized - it sounds like the disc reader is stuck, even if it can open and close just fine, on start-up, regardless of there being a disc in or not. As for the vaccuuming, don't worry - it was really weak, just getting the worst of the dust out of there. I would've both seen and heard if something that shouldn't have been sucked in had been.

[Illiad86]

Hmm...well did you check all your cables, take them out, put them back, make sure everything is in there nice? Getting any weird beeps when it turns on? (3 short beeps, long beeps, any combo of those) Has it ever done this before?

 

Hmmm is it a home-built system or a Dell, HP, etc? The only thing I can really think of is clearing the CMOS. Normally when you boot up and nothing happens (no beeps, no display), something went wonky with the BIOS.

 

Look in your motherboard or system documentation for any evidence of a CMOS clear jumper. This is a jumper on the motherboard that can be used to clear the CMOS memory; many newer motherboards have them. Follow the instructions for its use as described in the documentation; usually this means opening the PC, changing the jumper to a special setting, and then booting the PC. The CMOS memory will be cleared. Then you power the PC down and put the jumper back to its previous position.

 

If you do not have a CMOS clear jumper, your next option is to try disconnecting the CMOS battery. This is easy to do if the battery on the motherboard is removable or user-replaceable. If you see on the motherboard what looks like a flat round wristwatch or calculator battery in a holder, that's it. Some older motherboards use batteries that sit off the motherboard and connect with a wire. If the battery can be disconnected, then disconnect or remove it. Wait for about two hours (you may need to vary the amount of time; if two hours isn't enough, try leaving it overnight) and then plug it back in, and the CMOS should be cleared and reset.

 

The battery could possibly be dead/dying...how old is the system? The stinkers last for years, never had one die on me...but it's a possibility.

 

Other than that, I don't know what else to tell ya.

[bben46]

With no beep on power on it sounds bad. Usually either Motherboard or Power supply.

First you need a plan for troubleshooting. Make sure the monitor works best way is to plug it into another computer.

 

After you have verified the monitor, unplug everything from the back of the computer - including the power cord. Open it up and remove all of the plug in boards - either mark then or make a drawing of where they go. Remove your RAM sticks. Unplug the hard drives, CD drives and Floppy drive if you have one Nothing should be hooked up except the motherboard with nothing plugged into it- The processor fan should still be plugged in and the speaker so you can listen for the beeps.

 

Now plug in the power and switch it on. The processor fan should start, the fan in the power supply should start - you should get a beep - actually more than one as those beeps are reporting that there is no keyboard, no hard drive and no video system. If there are no beeps. then that tells us it is either the power supply or Motherboard.

 

If you do get beeps, start plugging things back in, one at a time.

Start with the video card and monitor. Be sure the monitor is powered up before turning on the computer.

Now along with the beeps you should see some post messages and possible some error messages - such as a no keyboard message on the monitor before it goes blank.

Next plug in the keyboard. and test again. There should be a different sequence of beeps, and the no keyboard message should not show.

Next the ram, one stick at a time - the amount of ram should be shown in the post messages on the monitor. Make sure it agrees with what you plugged in.

After verifying the ram, plug in the hard drive - if you have more than one, just the one with the Operating System on it. Now it should boot up if it does, next the mouse.

With a monitor, ram, hard drive keyboard & mouse you have a working computer.

Plug in each other device - one at a time and test before moving on. Hopefully it will turn out to be something cheap, like a mouse or floppy drive.

[LegoManIAm94]

Your monitor may be disconnected. It can happen and it will freeze your computer then once you reboot it and try it again it will say no signal input. just turn it on and the monitor and come back in 5-10 minutes and hopefully the moniter will reinstall itself like it did for me,