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black screen startup

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16 replies

by rg11

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not sure what was done to the machine previously. When I turn the machine on everything sounds fine the hard drive is spinning but I am not getting a signal to the monitor. I am thinking it may be the video card or mother board. I took out all other cards and tried unplugged cd rom. still nothing. When I put a startup disk in, I get the same black screen and the 3 1/2 isnt lighting up but I am not sure if the bios is set to boot to 3 1/2 first. The monitor is fine. The numlock or cap lock on the keyboard will not respond either. Any suggestions on what to do next.

16 replies

by parvus1202

If you checked the monitor cord, and it's fine, and all you have said, that you checked everything and they're fine, then get another monitor to test your computer or another computer to test your monitor. For now that is what you can do. We can't be sure unless you know exactly which one is not working.

by rg11

I havent checked the video card but I know the monitor is fine. I am going to swap out the video card and check that.

by richard_barsby

Hi the PC is not even getting to post by the sound of it try to reset the CMOS with either jumpers or remove battery for 20 Minutes.

Rich

by thechas

Things to check:

Inspect the motherboard for signs of overstress.
Burnt, charred, or "bloated" components.

Reset CMOS memory.
Verify the jumper is not in reset position.

Verify drive connector polarity.

Verify that AGP card is fully seated in the socket. It does not need to be up by much (0.01") to cause problems.

Try a PCI video card.

Remove and reseat RAM modules.

Try Known good ram.

If practicle, check motherboard regulator voltages.

Check 5v and 12V on drive connectors.

Swap CPU.

If these all yield no results, then I would say the motherboard is bad.

Chas

by reefurbb

pc needs minimum to boot to BIOS:
1. power supply on...connected...pwr switch ok. See if the pwr LED lights up. See if pwr supply fan runs.
2. motherboard. AT pwr supply runs to an attached switch direct. ATX pwr supply runs switch wires to the MOBO. Did they fall off or etc.?
3. RAM. if it went bad or is loose... Usually the MOBO will beep at you.
4. Usually, the cpu cooling fan will not run if something is wrong. If it runs, RAM-mobo-etc. is ok.
5. except that the mobo may be bad. Then,some things run but no video-etc. If BIOS screen doesn't appear, you can't boot from floppy.
6. you should list your system: PC, mobo, ram, OS,etc. to see if you have a new or old one. SOME old mobo's won't BIOS unless a good HDD is present.
7. Some stupid proprietary mobo's won't show bios (early Compaq). As soon as you turn on your PC, hold down the DEL key and see if your PC beeps you about a stuck keyboard...

by rcom

You didn't mention how you tested the monitor, this is too simple but is brightness or contrast turned down?

I agree that resetting the BIOS may correct peoblem. Someone may have changed a setting that is stopping the computer from coming up.
Does the computer beep at all. Usually there's at least one beep when MB testing finishes.

To add to what Chas stated, on the original design AGP cards had a tendency to ride up in the back of the slot and lose conectivity.

To see if the floppy is working at all put the ribbon cable on backwards and the indicator light should stay on continously, this won't hurt the drive.

Reseat CPU, video card and memory. If needed you can clean the contacts with a pencil eraser.

You didn't mention it, but is this a slot or socket CPU. I've had problems with slot PIIs going bad.

by djent

If the numlock/capslock or FD LEDs do not light you have no 5V from the power supply or the MB has failed. Do the basic trouble shooting process, check or replace PS, if machine beeps the display or RAM mat have a bad connection or failure. If you still get no LEDs with a good PS the MB or CPU has failed.

by vh_s

If your computer doesn't sound a beep when startup and the screen remain black, then it something inside.

Usually the processor is causing this. No, not that you have to replace the processor. I've found out that most processor is so good that they usually don't defect so soon.

What caused it is usually dust. The processor fan is a collector of dust. So, you have to remove the processor fan, the processor from its socket. Blow the processor socket lightly to remove dust. Do this also to the processor. The processor fan have also to be cleaned.

Nine out of ten cases, it will work well again.

Don't do this if you are not experienced with this kind of thing.

vh_s

by rg11

I cleaned and reseated the pII cpu. The fan is working on the cpu. I tried another video card. When I turn on pc, I get no beeps, numlock will not respond or light , will not recognize a disk in the 3 1/2, the cd rom light will flash like it is trying to read a disk, the 2 hard drives start spinning, I also reset the bios by taking out the battery for 30 min, reseated the ram(trying each one at a time-3 chips). I am down to either the power supply or mother board. Probably mother board but looks like an extra fan and hard drive was added. Could this do anything if the power supply was small....

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