PC HELP - Pc wont come on via monitor

BaileyB

Hi guys having a little problem with a family members pc.

It was working fine last week when i was looking at it. But there was a small issue with the keyboard so had it back but now the pc screen wont come on my monitor.

I have tried my TV aswell which has a pc output. I am going to try another monitor but what else could it be? Is there anyway i can tell it the graphics card has broken?

Exo

If the problem persists with a different monitor, then check all cabling and pins in sockets and ensure all is a firm fit and no damage. Ensure monitor settings are set in the mid range position. A modern monitor will usually give some error warning such as 'no signal' if there is a problem with the output from the computer.

If you have onboard graphics and a separate graphics card, ensure monitor is plugged into the correct output. Someone may have changed the BIOS settings, so check both outputs.

Still no joy, if using a graphics card, then check that it functions in another computer correctly.

Any beeps on startup? Can you hear the computer fans and hard drive spinning up?

Let us know how it goes.

totalsolutions

any keys stuck down?
tried the usual FN +F2

BaileyB

Exo wrote: »

If the problem persists with a different monitor, then check all cabling and pins in sockets and ensure all is a firm fit and no damage. Ensure monitor settings are set in the mid range position. A modern monitor will usually give some error warning such as 'no signal' if there is a problem with the output from the computer.

If you have onboard graphics and a separate graphics card, ensure monitor is plugged into the correct output. Someone may have changed the BIOS settings, so check both outputs.

Still no joy, if using a graphics card, then check that it functions in another computer correctly.

Any beeps on startup? Can you hear the computer fans and hard drive spinning up?

Let us know how it goes.

It's a old ish pc so has a PCI slot for the monitor.

I have not put the speakers on it yet but pretty sure i have heard beeps on a few pcs over the years without the speakers. Tried it with and without the keyboard, mouse etc just to see if it was that stopping it.

BaileyB

Just tried it again and my monitor just goes into sleep mode and is telling me there is no signal. And my Tv via pc slot is also telling me no signal.

The fans are all working (afaik) and the 2 dvd drives open fine. The keyboard does not light up i.e caps lock/num lock light once.

BaileyB

Ok have i took out the graphics card and put it back in it worked. But then i just restarted it and it wont work again.

So is this the graphics card or is something stopping it from working?

And if it is the graphics card how much would that be to be replaced?






Just trying it again, and when you turn the PC on the power light for the tower comes on and after 20 seconds or so this goes, now would this have something to do with it maybe? It's an Advent PC so not sure if this is normal or not.

althas

Hi there

It sounds like a graphic card problem, but I guess the only way to make sure is to take it to someone who can look and test it properly, but I can imagine that wont be cheap

If you need to relace the graphic card, then the cost is a "length of string" scenario. There are so many available ranging from £20 or £30 upwards all depending on what you want and what your machine can handle

The most important thing you need to do is find what fitting your graphics card is, PCI-E or AGP. From your picture, it looks like AGP to me, can someone confirm that? A PCI-E tends to be one long set of connectors and a short one, and AGP 3 seperate almost equal sized

At the end of the day it is all cost related and what you are prepared/willing to pay. Take it to someone for diagnosis and repair, take an educated and informed guess and buy a new graphic card, or get a new PC

GL and I hope you get it sorted

exup

that piccy looks like a PCI gfx card. I would expect that a PCI-E and AGP would have more outputs such as a DVI socket , s-video etc.

there is no similar socket on the motherboard itself? if there is oyu can take off the PCI gfx card and try theough the motherboard video output.

A PCI gfx card shouldnt be too pricey - just may be a bit tricky getting one as most new ones now are PCI-E and a few AGP .

vyseyboy

If it worked once, it'll work again. Take the gfx card out, clean the contacts, make sure it's properly seated, and the monitor cable is firmly screwed in.

Also a good idea to clean dust from all fans and take out and reseat RAM while you're in there (dust can get everywhere and cause overheating problems.)

Then do a reset of the CMOS memory, and revert to default settings (see here)

Generally PC hardware will either completely work or completely not work. That you got it to work once indicates that nothing is physically broken.

Also, for a basic PCI graphics card (assuming you don't do gaming / 3d work,) you're looking at a fiver maximum on fleabay.

BaileyB

Got it working, got it loaded up and there was an error code which i typed into google and came back as a ram issue. I took them ram out and changed them over all of 128mb and it worked fine and turned it on and off abour 5 times now without an issue. Lucky its a family members and all they require it for is one programme as he uses it in the garage.