possible video issue. nothing comes up on screen

ok, now when I turn on my PC nothing is showing on screen. all cables are
connected. possible issue with the integrated video on motherboard. I bought
another graphics card and still nothing. I've connected the monitor to
another pc, and it's not the monitor. any suggestion on how to proceed???
thanks

Shon wrote:
ok, now when I turn on my PC nothing is showing on screen. all cables
are connected. possible issue with the integrated video on motherboard.
I bought another graphics card and still nothing. I've connected the
monitor to another pc, and it's not the monitor. any suggestion on how
to proceed??? thanks

Does your PC beep, when there are serious hardware errors ?

One of the tests I like to use, is a beep test. These are
some tests you can try.

1) Power down and unplug the computer (this prevents +5VSB from
being present, on the hardware sockets). Remove all the sticks
of RAM. This test should work with all PCs, because they hate
it when you remove the RAM.

The PC case speaker (or a piezoelectric speaker on the motherboard),
will beep an error code. (On some Dell boxes, they also have a
four LED display, which displays an error code.)

The purpose of this test, is to prove the BIOS code is getting
executed. To beep the speaker, at least on modern machines,
requires some BIOS code execution. The BIOS code, can run in processor
registers, at least until the RAM test is completed.

If you hear a beep code, coming from the internal speaker, that
tells you the processor is working, and it ran some of the BIOS
code from the BIOS chip. It proves a significant portion of the
PC is working.

If you don't hear a beep, with the RAM missing, then the processor
likely was not able to run the BIOS code. Sometimes, this can be
caused by a weak BIOS battery (3V CR2032 coin cell). The processor
power plug (2x2 ATX12V cable) may have been unplugged. (Check the
two power cables, and make sure they're completely seated.) The BIOS
could have been corrupted somehow. Or, check the capacitors (aluminum
cans with plastic sleeving) near the processor socket. If the
tops are bulging or brown stuff is dried on them, they could be
leaking. This can cause the Vcore supply to the processor, to
malfunction. No Vcore = no computing.

2) You can also try this test for video. But some motherboards
have built-in video, and if that is the case, the motherboard
may just decide to use the built-in. So while you can also try the beep
test, by removing the video card, this test only applies to motherboards
that don't have built-in video in the chipset. The RAM test in (1),
is more of a sure thing.

I take it, when the power comes on, the cooling fans are spinning ?

The cooling fans run from +12V, so that helps confirm there is some
+12V available. The hard drive also uses +12V, and if you place a
finger on the body of the hard drive, you may feel some vibration
from the spinning of the platters inside. The motor on the hard
drive (on a desktop), is powered from +12V.

As a last resort, you can remove the processor heatsink, and examine
the condition of the processor. In particular, if you had an
old Athlon or Athlon XP processor, those have a bare silicon die,
and sometimes the die is cracked or burned. But playing with
it, is also dangerous, since every time you reinstall the
heatsink, you run the risk of cracking chips off the edge
of the silicon die. Athlon processors may come with rubber
"bumps" or a shim in the processor area, and the purpose of
these added items, is to cushion the heatsink during installation,
such that the heatsink cannot rock and push on the delicate
edges of the Athlon processor.

For other processor types, there is less to worry about.

When reinstalling a heatsink, you need to use some thermal
interface material, to aid in heat conduction. If the
existing thermal interface material is scratched up or uneven,
then you can apply fresh material. This is one example. A
dab of material the size of a grain of rice, should be
enough.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835100009

http://www.arcticsilver.com/ceramique_instructions.htm

Anyway, your first test should be the RAM beep test (1).
Post back what happens.

When the RAM is removed, it should be stored in an antistatic
bag. You want to be touching the chassis, while handling the RAM,
so you and your body are at the same electrostatic potential as
the rest of the hardware. Place the RAM inside the antistatic bag,
while touching the chassis.

An easier way to handle RAM, is with an antistatic wrist strap.
With one of these on your wrist, and the clip on the end clamped
to shiny metal on the PC chassis (even a screw on the I/O connectors
would do), this helps keep you at the same electrostatic potential
as the chassis. The strap should have a high ohm resistor inside it,
as the strap is intended to drain static discharges slowly. So an
ordinary piece of bare wire, wrapped around you, is not as safe
as an alternative to one of these straps. We used these straps all
the time, in the hardware lab. And we'd get rapped on the
knuckles, if caught without one. Hardware labs have strict
antistatic handling policies. (In some labs, you even need
antistatic shoes, and the floors are conductive and connected
to ground.)

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2479151

HTH,
Paul

Shon wrote:

ok, now when I turn on my PC nothing is showing on screen. all cables are
connected. possible issue with the integrated video on motherboard. I
bought another graphics card and still nothing. I've connected the monitor
to another pc, and it's not the monitor. any suggestion on how to
proceed??? thanks

Based on your troubleshooting, some other hardware component has failed. Do
you hear any fans when you turn on the computer? See any activity lights?
Hear the hard drive spinning up?

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

Shon wrote:

ok, now when I turn on my PC nothing is showing on screen. all cables are
connected. possible issue with the integrated video on motherboard. I
bought another graphics card and still nothing. I've connected the monitor
to another pc, and it's not the monitor. any suggestion on how to
proceed??? thanks

Based on your troubleshooting, some other hardware component has failed. Do
you hear any fans when you turn on the computer? See any activity lights?
Hear the hard drive spinning up?

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

ok, now when I turn on my PC nothing is showing on screen. all cables are
connected. possible issue with the integrated video on motherboard. I
bought another graphics card and still nothing. I've connected the
monitor to another pc, and it's not the monitor. any suggestion on how to
proceed??? thanks

Open the case and remove all of the memory modules.
Boot the PC.
If you don't get any error beeps the problem is either the motherboard or
power supply.
If you do get error beeps, reinstall the memory modules one at a time if
there are more than one.
If you don't get any error beeps with one memory module installed and you
still have no screen, shut down and swap out the memery module with another
one.
If the system boots and you have your screen back with one memory module
installed, shut down and install another memory module.
If you don't get a screen with an added memory module, the memory module is
bad.

--

Brian A. Sesko
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

ok, now when I turn on my PC nothing is showing on screen. all cables are
connected. possible issue with the integrated video on motherboard. I
bought another graphics card and still nothing. I've connected the
monitor to another pc, and it's not the monitor. any suggestion on how to
proceed??? thanks

Open the case and remove all of the memory modules.
Boot the PC.
If you don't get any error beeps the problem is either the motherboard or
power supply.
If you do get error beeps, reinstall the memory modules one at a time if
there are more than one.
If you don't get any error beeps with one memory module installed and you
still have no screen, shut down and swap out the memery module with another
one.
If the system boots and you have your screen back with one memory module
installed, shut down and install another memory module.
If you don't get a screen with an added memory module, the memory module is
bad.

--

Brian A. Sesko
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

Simple enough,unplug power to pc,remove new video card,restart pc.Integrated
video requires a diffrent install than boards w/o integrated video.Once
youre up
& running again,in xp,open device mgr,expand the display adapter tree,R.click
each (one at a time),select: uninstall Do for all w/o restarting,once
thru,exit,
shutdown pc.Install new video card,power up pc,once in xp,uninstall old
internal
video again,install new card drivers/software with xp wizard,once
thru,restart
pc.This leaves both video "active",xp can still use old video memory,or it
use
to,if problems exist,open BIOS,disable on-board video.

"Shon" wrote:

ok, now when I turn on my PC nothing is showing on screen. all cables are
connected. possible issue with the integrated video on motherboard. I bought
another graphics card and still nothing. I've connected the monitor to
another pc, and it's not the monitor. any suggestion on how to proceed???
thanks

Simple enough,unplug power to pc,remove new video card,restart pc.Integrated
video requires a diffrent install than boards w/o integrated video.Once
youre up
& running again,in xp,open device mgr,expand the display adapter tree,R.click
each (one at a time),select: uninstall Do for all w/o restarting,once
thru,exit,
shutdown pc.Install new video card,power up pc,once in xp,uninstall old
internal
video again,install new card drivers/software with xp wizard,once
thru,restart
pc.This leaves both video "active",xp can still use old video memory,or it
use
to,if problems exist,open BIOS,disable on-board video.

"Shon" wrote:

ok, now when I turn on my PC nothing is showing on screen. all cables are
connected. possible issue with the integrated video on motherboard. I bought
another graphics card and still nothing. I've connected the monitor to
another pc, and it's not the monitor. any suggestion on how to proceed???
thanks

I suspect that's going to be quite hard to do, the OP stated that when
booting there was no display on the monitor even after purchasing/installing
a new video card.

--

Brian A. Sesko
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375


Simple enough,unplug power to pc,remove new video card,restart
pc.Integrated video requires a diffrent install than boards w/o
integrated video.Once youre up
& running again,in xp,open device mgr,expand the display adapter
tree,R.click each (one at a time),select: uninstall Do for all w/o
restarting,once thru,exit,
shutdown pc.Install new video card,power up pc,once in xp,uninstall old
internal
video again,install new card drivers/software with xp wizard,once
thru,restart
pc.This leaves both video "active",xp can still use old video memory,or it
use
to,if problems exist,open BIOS,disable on-board video.

"Shon" wrote:

ok, now when I turn on my PC nothing is showing on screen. all cables are
connected. possible issue with the integrated video on motherboard. I
bought another graphics card and still nothing. I've connected the
monitor to another pc, and it's not the monitor. any suggestion on how
to proceed??? thanks

I suspect that's going to be quite hard to do, the OP stated that when
booting there was no display on the monitor even after purchasing/installing
a new video card.

--

Brian A. Sesko
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375


Simple enough,unplug power to pc,remove new video card,restart
pc.Integrated video requires a diffrent install than boards w/o
integrated video.Once youre up
& running again,in xp,open device mgr,expand the display adapter
tree,R.click each (one at a time),select: uninstall Do for all w/o
restarting,once thru,exit,
shutdown pc.Install new video card,power up pc,once in xp,uninstall old
internal
video again,install new card drivers/software with xp wizard,once
thru,restart
pc.This leaves both video "active",xp can still use old video memory,or it
use
to,if problems exist,open BIOS,disable on-board video.

"Shon" wrote:

ok, now when I turn on my PC nothing is showing on screen. all cables are
connected. possible issue with the integrated video on motherboard. I
bought another graphics card and still nothing. I've connected the
monitor to another pc, and it's not the monitor. any suggestion on how
to proceed??? thanks