Monitor issues

jdan9

Hi everyone - I don't usually post in this part of the forums, but I'm hoping somebody can help me with this problem:

I have a desktop pc, which was custom-built. I've been away at uni for the last few months so I haven't used it. Now I've got a laptop so I don't want to use it generally, but it has a TV tuner, remote and decent monitor so I wanted to use it as a TV/PVR.

I tried to turn it on, and it comes on fine, all the right noises, fans etc, but there is no output to the monitor. I have tried connecting the monitor by both analogue and digital cables, no luck. Also tried an old CRT, no luck. And have put the monitor into my laptop and it works fine. So it's not the monitor.

Aside from being a bit dusty, I can't see anything obviously wrong inside or outside the computer. It worked just a month or so ago when I used it for something.

I don't know the spec off the top of my head, because it was custom built, I can only tell you that the video is onboard the mobo. Running Vista Home Premium.

Does anybody have any suggestions to try? Would it be worth forking out for a PCI card video card, on the chance that the onboard video is messed up?

Taffybiker

Time to look at your PC. The monitor will not start up unless it gets a "good" signal from the PC. Most people immediately suspect the graphics card, but usually it is something else. Disconnect all the drives, keyboard, mouse and remove any expansion cards, except graphics card if fitted. See what happens when you power just the motherboard. If all is well your monitor will light up with error messages, then reconnect everything one by one until it stops working and you will have found the problem. If nothing happens with just the motherboard powered, try another graphics card by all means. Other than that the easiest thing to check would be the memory. If there are two or more modules try powering up with just one, then the other(s). It is unusual, though not impossible for all modules to fail. Finally, try a different PSU. If it still doesn't work then the motherboard or processor is faulty. If you can try another processor then great, otherwise it's a new mobo.

Do remember to take anti-static precautions when handling the bits and pieces.

Hope this helps.

jdan9

Thanks - will give the suggestions a try in a couple of weeks, after my exams are over, when I'll have more free time. I'll make do with the laptop in the meantime.