Computer Problem

pb21
pb21 Posts: 2,171
edited October 2008 in The bottom bracket
I have a major problem with my computer, it doesn't work!

The other day it completely froze in windows, so I had to switch it off. When trying to switch it on again there was no output whatsoever. I switched it off and on again and the same thing happened no output. I then switched it off left it for a while came back switched it on again and it booted up fine.

Yesterday I switched it on and once again there was no output. After multiple attempts and leaving it off for a while it didn't do anything, the monitor is not receiving any signal from the PC whatsoever.

Its a quite old hard drive (maybe 6 years+) but the motherboard, processor and RAM are only a few months old as I upgraded them last year.

Does anyone have any ideas as what could be wrong?

Thanks
Mañana

Comments

  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    dodgy connection perhaps? - either VGA cable from PC to monitor or perhaps even the graphics card itself in the motherboard - they are pretty tight - you sure you got it engaged properly?

    or perhaps a duff graphics card itself.

    (unless it is integral to the motherboard in which case you might be stuffed - although you could try a dedicated grapics card and disable the onboard card in the BIOS - which might save the day (and get you a better graphics card thrown into the deal!))
  • h34e0f
    h34e0f Posts: 370
    try www.geekstogo.com
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    how much ram have you got in it and what MoBo?

    Some MoBo's have an issue occassionally booting post crash with lots of or fast ram, if you stick in a slow stick then it'll boot, you can turn it off and reinstall the ram and it'll boot fine.
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • Skiddypants
    Skiddypants Posts: 55
    You could maybe clear the BIOS memory by moving the jumper on the motherboard (see motherboard manual), my stepsons PC does this occasionally aswell.
    Skinny Git on a Bianchi.
  • Big Red S
    Big Red S Posts: 26,890
    Allow remote desktop connections (control panel, system, remote) and when it crashes see if you can get in from another host.
    Or, if you've already got a networking service running, see if you can talk to it while the PC's crashed.

    Since the only apparent output you've got is through the monitor, it could be anything up to the monitor, or something else. Do the keyboard status lights still toggle while it's frozen?
    See if you can borrow another video adapter to rule that out. A non-moving display can be symptomatic of an overheating display adapter, and having to leave it after a freeze before it works again is symptomatic of *something* overheating.
    http://avi.co/doc/Forums.html
  • pb21
    pb21 Posts: 2,171
    Thanks for the replies. I will try clearing the BIOS memory and see what that does. I suspect its a MoBo issue as I think everything else is firing up.
    Mañana
  • Big Red S
    Big Red S Posts: 26,890
    pb21 wrote:
    I think everything else is firing up.

    What makes you think that?

    Even so, it may be that the only reason some bit of hardware isn't 'firing up' is because the software never tells it to.
    http://avi.co/doc/Forums.html
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Are we talking desktop or laptop? My knowledge is restricted to the former.

    Erratic start up and I always suspect the power supply first. They can deteriorate over time and produce a range of odd symptoms. Can you try it with a known good power supply?

    Does it produce the POST beep when it sounds like it's starting? (has it ever beeped when starting up?)

    If as you say it's firing up but nothing's on the screen, then it's either a duff graphics card, monitor cable, or monitor.

    Try a different monitor / cable first.

    If you have a separate graphics card you could try reseating it in it's slot; sometimes restores a loose connection. If it's onboard graphics you could be right about need ing a new mobo
  • Big Red S
    Big Red S Posts: 26,890
    keef66 wrote:
    Are we talking desktop or laptop? My knowledge is restricted to the former.
    Same stuff, different boxes in the main. Certainly when they break.
    It's a bit more tricky to replace bits of a laptop, but it's got all the same components.
    If as you say it's firing up but nothing's on the screen, then it's either a duff graphics card, monitor cable, or monitor.
    Or something vital to startup's broken. Depends exactly what's meant by 'firing up'.
    A dud cpu wont stop the fans spinning, for example. Bad memory's particularly good for that actually, thinking about it. Would also cause seemingly arbitrary freezes. Especially if it's providing video ram...

    Download, burn and boot:
    http://www.memtest86.com/
    http://avi.co/doc/Forums.html
  • Mr_Cellophane
    Mr_Cellophane Posts: 690
    Mine did that a few months ago. I reseated the memory, cards and CPU and it all works fine now.
  • northernneil
    northernneil Posts: 1,549
    if theres no power at all - no lights or fans spinning then its likey that the power supply in the base unit could be on its way out - easily replaced for about £13
  • Big Red S
    Big Red S Posts: 26,890
    When you've got an issue caused by a failed power supply, it's generally held that replacing it with a cheap power supply isn't the most sensible idea.
    http://avi.co/doc/Forums.html
  • northernneil
    northernneil Posts: 1,549
    if its 6 years old it will probably be 230W PSU so replacing it now with a 300W (just about minmum you can buy) will be fine just make sure its a 'standard' power supply and not from a small form factor or slimline case - any decent local PC shop will know what you mean if you ask them that

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