Windows Forum

Ask something
Question Locked

HP Media Center Display problems ..

0 helpful
20 replies

by it_guru_2006

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

Hello to all. I have the HP Media Center and am having a strange problem. I am trying to boot up the PC and the power comes on. I see the green power light and also hear the fan etc. However nothing gets displayed on the LCD Monitor. It keeps telling me that it is going to sleep.

I tested the LCD monitor on my laptop and it works fine. So something is wrong within the PC.

I tried the BIOS mode by pressing F1 or F5 or F10 several times but nothing seems to work. I cant even get the BIOS to be displayed on the monitor.

What can I try on my own to fix this. How to determine if the motherboard or / VGA has gone bad.

Please help.. Thanks in advance.

20 replies

by hal 9000

Is some beeps. There is a Beep Error Code that tells you what if anything is wrong with the computer and this varies between different makes of BIOS. So the AMI and Award will have a different code.

If there are no beeps then try changing the BIOS Battery and make sure that you refit it the same way that it came out with the numbers on the back readable when on the M'Board. Just remember to unplug the Mains lead and let the computer sit for some time to allow the capacitors to discharge and place your hand onto a metal part of the case to discharge any static build up that you may have.

If you have little Technical experience that's about the limit of what you can do yourself as the rest requires some idea of how things work and what happens when you turn on the system. If you go in blindly you can do much more harm than good and destroy more things that the computer is actually worth or worse still corrupt the HDD and loose all of your data.

Col

by it_guru_2006

Thanks for the reply. I hear no beeps at all when I boot up.

I had recently bought a new Computer table and the PC was in its own lower shelf with front door closed. Maybe this caused overheating as it was closed from all 4 corners except for the small round gap at the back to allow wires to get in.

It was heating up a lot. Could this have caused some sort of pwer failure within.

Are there any sort of troubeshoot guides on the web which might help me out..

by w2ktechman

and likely a device on your motherboard or video card has failed due to overheating. But before deciding htis, try the suggestions in both Hal's and my posts. This can narrow troubleshooting to determine the parts that need replacing.

by w2ktechman

this may be an issue with the USB ports. I have had Pavilion systems not boot if things like mice were plugged into the front ports. This can happen after a power spike injurs the port. Unplug all external devices, including your USB mouse.
If not, then your video card may be gone. If you have a video card to test with, and know how to install it, I would try this route. At least you should be able to see enough to get into the BIOS.

Do you know if anything was 'odd' last time it worked? If so, can you explain it (to the best of your memory).

Aside from testing the video card, Hal brings up some good points. If you cannot install another video card, try Hal's suggestions.

My Pavilion media center has these, an on-board card (with a plastic cover because it was ordered with an upgraded card). A tuner card (useless right now), and an add-in card. If you had your card upgraded, it may be similar to my setup. Try removing the plastic cover (if you have it) and see if the video works from there.
Also, on my nvidia card, it has both s-video and composite video ports. try outputting using one of these instead (to a tv).

One of these options should work, if not it may be your motherboard is going out (USB issue) or power supply is damaged and/or not outputting enough power.

If none of the suggestions worked, try unplugging a few devices internally (if you have the knowledge to).

BUT, If it is under warranty, call for support before opening the case for any reason.

by it_guru_2006

I will try some of your suggestions. I am searching for some online guides with pictures to help me out. I am a software guy with not any experience with hardware etc...

I can tell you that I was using the Media Center to record a TV program when this happened. Prior to that everything was normal. I only used the computer mainly as a TIVO.

But the tower was heating up quite a lot ever since I bought the new table (a week ago). I should have paid more attnetion to this but like a fool I ignored it thinking this is normal.

I bought the Media Center back in 2004 Sep so I dont think HP can help me anymore.
I will have to find some local computer shop which can atleast diagnose the problem for me without ripping me off. Any suggestions on what kind of shop to go to to get a free estimate etc...

Also how costly are mother boards or CPU's ?

by hal 9000

Yes M'Boards & CPU's don't like getting hot but also they have quite a bit of protection built in to prevent this being a real problem as the unit should shut down before it gets too hot.

I would try opening the case clean it out with compressed air or something similar and remember to look at the CPU Heat Sink for a build up of Crud. Then if there is no difference pull out one plug in card at a time replace it and try it again. You may need to remove every plug in card and re seat these as well as the fitted RAM before things start working properly.

Don't pull the CPU or it's Heat Sink as they are not overly easy to put back in place without experience but provided that you ground yourself to the case and remove the mains line you should be safe as everything will be at the same Static Potential so there will be no static arcs that can destroy things. If you have an Anti Static Wrist Strap by all means use it and again touch the case with your other hand so you bring the static potentials of both you and the computer to the same level.

Quite often you can get a problem with all the internal contacts and just removing and re seating the various bits can cure the problem.

It's also possible that the Power Supply has gone bad with it being locked away and replacing this may cure your problems as there are many heat sensitive bits within the PS that are not repairable but the good news is that PS are cheap to replace particularly if they are a standard unit so you can buy one anywhere rather than going back to the original maker for a replacement.

If it's a rectangular PS you should be able to use any one that fits into the space but HP did use some propriety PS along the way which did give trouble but they where mainly in flat Desktop Case not Towers. Even when I test these I just plug in a Known Good PS and power up and see what happens. I had a Compaq EVO several years ago that worked for 8 months then died and HP had swapped several PS into the unit with no improvement but when I tried a 500 W Antec PS it worked perfectly for several hours that I left it running. I'm not sure just how they solved the problem with that one but it was their PS's not being up to scratch which was the problem and while it worked perfectly well you couldn't leave the case open and have a PS sitting on a desktop out of the case.

When it comes to prices for parts in the US W2Ktechman is in a better position than me as I'm in AU to provide both prices and places to buy from as he has the local knowledge. But if you are seriously looking at upgrading the unit you'll need to be looking at M'Board CPU and RAM as the new M'Boards take different CPU Sockets and RAM to what was used a few years ago.

Just look at the Back Panel connectors on a New M'Board and see if they are in a similar lay out to what you already have or are clustered together as quite often new M'Boards come with their own Back Plate that is removable. It should be an easy job to swap a M'Board out but look at the PS first.

Col

by it_guru_2006

I tried to open up the PC. I removed the Hard Drive and inserted it again. I also
did the same with the graphics card. I then tried to boot up the machine and still the
same problem.

I dont see any light being lit up on the motherboard. Is that a bad sign that the motherboard is burnt up.

Secondly I could not find the battery for the motherboard.

The fan seems to be running fine. Any other ideas would really help a lot.

I think I realize that I screwed up. Because my PC was heating up inside the table cabinet. I did not have that much of a gap from the front or the back in order for the PC to breath. But still one would think these machines are designed to withstand that heat or shut down automatically before the motherboard or cpu gets burnt..

by w2ktechman

Try removing and re-seating the RAM.

Also, did you unplug all USB devices (including the mouse)?

If those did not work,
unplug (and keep unplugged, for now) you cd/dvd drive,
Remove your TV tuner card
remove the modem (if it is there)
remove the sound card.

try booting without these
Did it work?

If not, try removing 1 stick of memory, reboot without it. If it does not work, try switching memory modules.

If it still fails, get a tester on your power supply or try a different one. If it still fails, I would suggest a new motherboard.

by it_guru_2006

I remove the hard drive completely. Also tried to remove the graphics card but had some problem. I can take it out of the slot. But it has some wires plugged to front of the media center for the Composite Video in. I cant seem to figure out how to remove those. They go to the back of the graphics card circuit and are firmly secure..

Well I tried to boot up anyway and still no beep yet. I am trying to figure out what brand of graphics card and motherboard is there. No luck yet. Am still trying to remove other stuff..

by it_guru_2006

Hi.
I think there is some good news and maybe my motherboard and processor is ok. But I am not fully sure. I put in the Hard drive back and removed 1 RAM chip and removed the Graphics card completely. I started the computer and heard a very long beep. This beep keeps repeating itself and never ends.

My machine is a HP media Center 1050y and the Motherbaord is the ASUS motherboard I think.

Would any one know what this long beep (which does not end) really mean.

I am thinking of buying a new graphics card and seeing what happens. The problem is that I will need the media center graphics card with TV tuner card in built within it.

by w2ktechman

I would say your RAM needs to be installed in pairs.

what happens if the RAM chip is put back in (but the video is out)?

by it_guru_2006

Ok now I put the graphics card inside but left 1 of the RAM chips outside. I get the long beep again. It keeps repeating itself.

But when I remove the graphics card and put the RAM chip I dont get this beep.

Fan comes on at both times and I see the green led light of power.

What could this mean. If my RAM is bad, then shouldnt it just run out of the single 512 MP RAM chip. I still dont get any display.

Could I still have a bad motherboard or Processor...

Any clues guys...

by hal 9000

Some M'Boards require 2 sticks of RAM to run properly and they need to be in the correct RAM Sockets.

If I remember those M'Boards right they have a Green and Orange pair of RAM Sockets and you need to place the first pair of RAM into the Orange Sockets and then the next pair into the Green Sockets. I may be wrong though as you didn't make any mention of the M'Board Model so it may be a different type.

Col

by it_guru_2006

How to figure out the Mboard model. I called HP parts and they refuse to give me the model number. They are trying to convince me to buy a new tower. Typical marketing strategy.. It looks very similar to the ASUS PTGD1-LA motherboard.

I have the HP Media Center m 1050y series.

by hal 9000

Turn off the HP Splash Screen in BIOS and then reboot and pause on the BIOS Screen. Look for the BIOS makers Name Award, Phoenix, AMI or whatever and then copy down the BIOS String on the bottom of the screen or be lazy and look up here and use the testing utilities provided on this Web Site.

http://www.biosman.com/id_motherboard.html

Col

by w2ktechman

Ok, try this, go to partsurfer.hp.com and punch in your model (I did 1050y). You can also search from product #.

The MB could change between the different models, so choose the one that you have.

by gtgarrett

I have had an HP Media Center PC for almost two years now and this problem has occurred three or four times, the most recent of which was about 15 minutes ago. The first time it happened I had no idea what was going on so I simply called HP and the employee told me to switch the power cords of the monitor and the computer. You do not have to unplug the cords from the wall you just have to unplug each one from the monitor and computer and switch them. I have no idea how this remedies the problem but somehow it always does.
Hope this helps,
GTgarrett

by oh smeg

It cures the problem because the power is removed from the Computer and the PS is allowed to reset during this time. When the computer is turned off at the front of the case there is still power going through the PS and it is generating the low voltage required to allow the pus switch on the front of the case to generate the required ripple in the 12 V DC Line to turn the PS on fully.

As for the solution it is in answer to a question asked in October 2007 so your a little late. :)

Col

by rules_trent

I have the same problem., hp media center from 2008 and in 3 years never gave this problem... yesterday I switched the cords and worked, but when I shut down the pc is came frozen in closing windows xp... I had to turn off the energy... in the morning I had the same monitor is gloing to sleep problem... and now I did the same switching cords thing 5 times and lettin the pc rest and didn??t worked can you please help me?

This discussion is closed to new replies.