Random computer question

[LunchBox8484]

This is really the only forum I post to so I thought maybe someone could try to help me...


I'm trying to fix a computer, a custom built PC, and I'm having problems getting anything on the monitor at all. Before you ask, yes, everything is plugged in.

When you start the computer, the CPU fan, video card fan, mb lights, etc all come up, but nothing on the montior. It doesn't even recognize the computer as an input source, even for a second. Also, no beep or anything. I think thats because its not accessing the hard dive, becasue i dont feel it spinning. It's not that specific hard drive, as I have tested multiple ones.

So, I think I've narrowed it down to either motherboard or power supply. Either the power supply isn't giving enough power to the MB to the HD anymore or something is shot on the MB. Any

 

[4JNA]

...Also, no beep or anything...

bad sign. current pc motherboards have bios 'beep' codes. if something is wrong, it beeps a number of times, you count the beeps, and then look it up in a chart to find out what is wrong. no beep means no POST (power on self test). could be motherboard, cpu, power supply, or a combination of any of those.

would recommend using the jumper to clear the bios, use only 1 stick of 'known good' memory, re-seat all power connectors, and remove all cards except the video card. might also look around the processor at the caps/fets to see if anything has signs of 'magic smoke' leaking out, as the power regulator section is always right around the cpu socket, and is a likely thing to have fail.

best of luck.

 

[SkyBell]

I had the exact same thing happen to my windows box last year. Bad Motherboard

Oh and by the way, try this website for windows and non-windows box questions alike: www.obsoletecomputermuseum.org/helpline

P.S. WE HATE SPAM


EDIT: If you're not technicaly (sp?) savvy, you WILL be confused by the things they say. (Don't tell them I said that)

 

[LunchBox8484]

Well, here's a bit of an update of sorts...


I bought a new power supply to test out, and I thought it worked, because the first time I booted up, I saw the Intel motherboard screen and it just said something about the HD and how there's no OS on it (which there isn't). But now, everytime after I reboot, and no matter what combination I have things plugged in, I first get a skewed screen, but i can read it says something about Checksum, keyboard error and press F4. The keyboard is unresponsive but you can hear like a clicking noise from inside the computer when you push keys. Then, it goes to a black screen, but the monitor is still on and reads it as an input source, and there a little green dot on the screen.

So now I have absolutely no idea whats going. Could it be a motherboard problem. But why did it sort of work the first time?

Weird stuff.