computer doesn't always send signal to monitor

[geekminxen]

We had to replace the hard drive in my Asus Essentio CM6850. Now when I turn it on, it doesn't always send a signal to the monitor. Sometimes it powers up just fine-- you can hear everything power up, then it cycles down (the sound softens; I'm not sure if there's a term for it as I'm not very computer savvy, but you can definitely hear it get quieter) and I get the Asus and sign up screens like normal. Sometimes (about 50% of the time) everything powers up but doesn't get quieter, and I get the message on the monitor that it's saving power because it's not getting a signal.

The hard drive replacement came after the computer froze on me and wouldn't reboot. We couldn't access the hard drive using a known good computer, or with a SATA cable (though we could access other hard drives with the cable, so we knew that was working). Now I'm thinking more than the hard drive failed, but I have no idea what. I would appreciate any thoughts and advice. Thank you!

 

[Purr4me]

Look / inspect the old hard drives (pin) selection and see if it was left "master/slave/or other" then see if the new drive has the same selection.

 

the older hard drive hooked up VIA sata tray on another known good PC VIA usb connection , remove the set PIN for master.

 

now you should get it to respond.

 

software wrote to it's BIOS, drives have them too, if the board BIOS supports UIFE ? then the boards BIOS need to be reset cuz again, software wrote to it.

 

check master status first. Type of drives is also required to know about.

About what you posted here:

 

Asus Essentio CM6850-01 Desktop i7 3.4GHz 8GB 750GB DVDRW


2nd Gen Intel Core i7-2600 processor - Features an 8MB L3 cache and 3.4GHz processor speed with Turbo Boost up to 3.8GHz.
Intel Core i7 processor - Features 8-way processing for ultimate smart performance. Intel Turbo Boost Technology automatically speeds up your processor when your PC needs extra performance.
8GB DDR3 memory - For multitasking power, expandable to 16GB.
Multiformat DVDRW/CD-RW drive with double-layer support - Records up to 8.5GB of data or 4 hours of video using compatible DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL media, also supports DVD-RAM.
750GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 rpm) - Offers plenty of storage capacity.
NVIDIA GT 520 graphics - Feature 2GB video memory for lush images with stunning detail. HDMI output for flexible connectivity options.
16-in-1 media reader - Supports CompactFlash, Microdrive, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO, Memory Stick PRO Duo, Secure Digital and Secure Digital High Capacity formats.
Also supports MultiMediaCard, MultiMediaCard Plus, Reduced-Size MultiMediaCard and MultiMediaCard mobile. Adapter required for Memory Stick Micro, miniSD, microSD support and MultiMediaCard mini (not included).
10 high-speed USB 2.0 ports - For fast digital video, audio and data transfer.
Built-in 10/100/1000 Ethernet LAN - With RJ-45 connector for quick and easy wired Web connection.

 

https://www.asus.com/Tower-PCs/Essentio_CM6850/

MFG: ASUS
MFG Part: CM6850-01

 

 

 

Now, if this occurred after a windows 10 upgrade ? then your in for a hard time, some of this is not supported by windows 10.

 

If this is not the correct PC ID ? then I can edit this post, but verify the exact PC's ID for me so I can assist you better.

 

this will help me help you, please choose what you own.

both drives..http://www.computerhope.com/hdspecs.htm

Edited December 28, 2015 by Purr4me

[obobski]

SATA drives do not have master/slave/CS assignment pins - its a 1:1 serial interface. Hard-drives do not have BIOSes - they have firmware which is not generally accessible to end-users without specialized tools. None of this has anything to do with Windows - it's all much lower level than Windows. If Windows borked something it'd likely be the MBR or its own boot-loader; a damaged MBR would make it hard (potentially impossible) for another Windows machine to read the disk, but a damaged boot-loader would have no impact on an already-booting system's ability to read the disk (it just would mean the disk itself couldn't boot, and you'd get NTLDR errors when attempting it). If the test system can see the disk in BIOS and the disk is able to be observed starting/spinning the physical hardware is probably okay, and I'd move on to testing it with manufacturer's diagnostic tools at the low-level, and depending on that to a higher-level application to check over the filesystem and Windows installation.

 

None of this would have a bearing on the monitor not getting a signal - first thought there is always check the cable (the "going to sleep" is the monitor's way of telling you its not getting a signal), and if that's not the issue, try with another monitor (it may be the monitor itself is exhibiting problems; don't have another monitor? try the monitor on another device). If the fans aren't cycling down that may indicate the machine isn't POSTing correctly and the BIOS fan management isn't taking over, and that's a problem - I'd try clearing the CMOS and seeing if that resolves the issue, and if not, check the memory and perform a diagnostic boot (strip the thing down, add one device back at a time and boot, when it stops beeping in error you've either found your culprit or rebuilt it); the problem will exist somewhere in there.

[Purr4me]

I have a desk full of all types here, tell ya what, I'll snap a picture of all of these and use paint to point out what I'm discussing so to help this person solve their problem...they say a picture is worth a thousand words.

If this user wants, he or she may PM me directly and take this issue private.

 

I offer help, no discussions...just a fix.

Kitty

[obobski]

No need to get combative friend - nobody is here to fight. Perhaps a picture may be useful though, as what you've described is not making sense as written.

[Purr4me]

No need to get combative friend - nobody is here to fight. Perhaps a picture may be useful though, as what you've described is not making sense as written.

Nope, it's not about that, I need information directly as requested...an idea of the factual hardware...so far, from the posts are not fully divulging anything tangible we can use....exact specs of the components are whats required.

 

you should know me by now...I always ask for exact facts...so far, all I have are names of a PC..which many exist of that brand, each with differences so it's like chasing your tail.

 

So far, we have here "2 hard drives " spoken of...one that supposedly died , unresponsive, and yet another shipped as a replacement, neither of have been given name brand size or type.

 

remove the guess work and nail down the issue...that's what I need to do...not confuse them with too much information...that's our job.

 

nothing here is personal at all. the PM is personal.

[Purr4me]

for your eye's only I give you Proof of facts:

putting to rest any arguments about this:

 

http://s26.postimg.org/7s9hr83gp/serial_sata.jpg

http://s26.postimg.org/83qy3zjwp/sata_drive.jpg

Edited December 28, 2015 by Purr4me

[Purr4me]

print showed up rather small in high res but this is an sata hard drive burnt up, the red circle is where a tiny pin selection key is placed.

 

each manufacturer will have different settings.

 

asus mother boards have Programmable profiles in the CMOS/ Bios capable of interacting with any OS such as windows.

 

I own one of these beasts too. But the link I provided hosts many brands and all the user needs to do is direct me to the right one by clicking the link.

http://www.computerhope.com/hdspecs.htm

he or she can do the same for their product so I can download the products pdf manual and read for my self what it has.

 

choice is theirs. Work has been done for them.

[obobski]

There is no master/slave selection for SATA hard-drives (it's an irrelevant setting since SATA does not share devices on the same controller channel - its serial point to point). That's a PATA/ATAPI thing. Those pins are serving a different function, either for manufacturing/diagnostic connection, or to jumper the drive into a certain operating mode (e.g. limit to 32GB, limit to SATA I, etc). They are *not* setting master/slave. Example, which looks pretty similar to your second picture:

http://knowledge.seagate.com/articles/en_US/FAQ/193991en

 

None of those would have an impact (nor would master/slave selection) on the issue described, for two reasons:

1) The jumpers don't magically move. So unless the poster is lying and changed more settings than they're describing, it was previously working and now isn't, it won't be from magical jumper walk.

2) None of the changes that can be wrought by those jumper settings will cause the drive to disappear, unless it were a PATA/ATAPI drive and two drives were set as slave or master (which will throw an error on boot, not fail to POST).

 

It's also a more or less dead line of inquiry because a dead hard-drive won't cause POST to fail - it will throw a disk error once the BIOS finishes booting and looks for a bootable disk.

 

As far as issues with the BIOS itself, that may be possible, and that's where clearing the CMOS would be easiest. It may also be a hardware issue, and I provided a rough idea of how to nail that down further; without more troubleshooting its impossible to speculate in a more accurate way wrt a hardware issue or similar though.

[Purr4me]

we have both looked at the same pages ,regardless ...the wait, I'll post the software commands that will cause all of this in PM cuz I can't post that here, some one might use the info to cause even more damage....but I can hint at it..what is it that has been done when you walk away from your car?

Knowing what tools are used with hard drives you might guess it. once that takes place, that drive is now usless and this is done with software..as I think might have taken place...possible as you said, it's a dead line.

 

This simple note book I am using is proprietary in nature, it was built By Toshiba and it will not read any hard drives that have ever been formated or used, it also will not allow any OS except windows 8..1 OEM to be installed on it. That small drive was from this one.

 

when I removed the pin from it, this note book could then read it, reformat it and reclaimed the drive...though as I said it did burn out.

lasted about a year...formated to the full size. put the pin back on, dead drive, not even seen By the Bios./ COMS.

 

while all this is interesting, the one thing I do remember is ..It prevented the screen from booting. so, it was tested on a PC in the same fashion only to show massive power drain on the (PSU) and no monitor posts...while waiting..removed the drive and the system posted immediately.

 

pull the pin, reconnected the drive, rebooted right into windows.

 

we still have not enough information from the OP yet to determine what is what. the manual for that rig is useless as I downloaded it.

 

so as in the hint provided...that will cause this issue as I have done that once and know for a fact you can kill a drive with one command.