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black screen at startup

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by rg11

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I have a pc I am having trouble with. I unplugged everything but hard drive, 3 1/2, video card. I power on the pc, cpu and powersupply fans run, nothing from 3 1/2, hard drive spins, the lights on the keyboard light up when the computer is turned on but then go off and num locks and caps dont come on when pressed.I tried a new video card did nothing, new hard drive nothing, there is 3 ram chips I tried each one individually-still nothing. I tested the voltage on the MB- fine. No beeps from the computer at all when turned on and running. I suspect the cpu is bad, any way to test without swapping.. Anything else I should try...

13 replies

by opatzg9

Try booting without the hard disk. If you post you should be ok, just a harddrive problem.

by rjette

I would try disconnecting the power cable on the 3 1/2 drive. ( I had one that was shorted once) Next I would disconnect the reset cable on the motherboard. If the switch is bad it should run.
Good luck

by rcom

The PC probably isn't booting far enough to test the floppy drive so that's why there's no indicator light. To test for short/open put the ribbon cable on backwards and the light will stay on continuously. The keyboard lights are just an indication that there's power present.

Usually the CPU doesn't go bad unless the fan has stopped and if it's an Intel chip it can run without the cooling fan if heatsink is big enough.

The AGP slot may be bad you can try a PCI video card.

Reset the system BIOS. Either remove the battery for an hour or so, or use the jumpers according to directions in the MB book. On some mother boards the BIOS can be reset by holding down the end key while turning on the power.

Also check the power connectorfor the mother board I've had problems on some connectors when there's 2 wires in the same hole. The wires have a tendency to slide up and loose contact.

by trishcom

Hi
Check your memory modules (ram chips)If they are SIMMS,then they usually work in pairs-so you should have an even number of modules on you motherboard.Also check that the modules are inserted in the correct slots eg: SIMM1;SIMM2.If you have DIMMS,then make sure that they are of the same type or just try ONE only on your motherboard

Harry

by opatzg9

With the seating of the memory or boards you may have flexde your motherboard and it may be grounding out on the metal case. Those plastic posts don't always hold the motherboard high enough and the soder points sometimes touch. take and push the motherboard from the underside and try switching it on again.
Good luck

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