computer does not start. Red HDD light is on. HELP!!!

pre-reg

can anyone please help. My friends PC doesnt want to start. When the power switch is pressed the computer acts like its about to start ie it makes the usual sound for a second.....however...

the HDD light at the front of the case is permantly red and nothing happens. The screen doesnt even come on. I think because the computer starts it cannot be the power supply. Do you think the hard drive is dead....

If so how easy is it to replace the hard drive and where is the best place for one (ebuyer? etc...).

Many thanks in advance.

Best wishes

NellyLock

erm even if the hard drive was dead you will still see stuff on the screen it would just come up with a message like os missing so i would actually remove the idea that the h/d is dead

have a poke around inside and make sure that all the cables and pci cards are in place and not come loose.

neil

Browntoa

not neccesarilly the hard disk, could be the motherboard or bios

JimArnold

lack of anything on screen means it is probably not the hard disk
Disconnect the hard disk power and ide ribbon cable and see what happens
you should still get half a dozen lines on the screen before it stops

check everything is seated properly esp the graphics card

Does it make any beeping noises ?

pre-reg

JimArnold wrote:

lack of anything on screen means it is probably not the hard disk
Disconnect the hard disk power and ide ribbon cable and see what happens
you should still get half a dozen lines on the screen before it stops

check everything is seated properly esp the graphics card

Does it make any beeping noises ?

Thanks everyone for their help so far. I have disconnected the cables and still there is nothing on screen. It doesnt even make a beeping sound. The HDD is red and it seems the computer is on (by the sound) but there is nothing on screen.

please help!!!

Browntoa

does the fan come on when it starts up ???

can you get into bios by hitting the F2 key ?

what make of PC is it ??

pre-reg

thanks, the fan does come on. I cant even use the F2 key as the monitor doesn`t come on.

I know the monitor is fine. Its my usal monitor, but i am using to help my friend with her pc.

Unfortunatily it was brought by her brother a year ago and was custom built.

thanks again

bbb_uk

If the red light on the HDD is on that kindof rules out a PSU (power supply unit) problem but this can be confirmed by pressing the eject button on one of your CDROM drives.

A constant red light would indicate that its the motherboard because if it was just the monitor then after turning it on the red light would go out after Windows has loaded (ie. when it is no longer reading/writing to the drive). That is assuming you know for a fact the red light wasn't always on as it is possible by having the HDD LED connector the wrong way for the LED light to be on all the time!

Therefore most likely problem would seem to be the motherboard!

pre-reg

is there any way of confirming it definately confirming its the motherboard. Interstingly the eject button on the cd drive doesnt work, is that significant???

iam not sure if the led light is always red but nothing comes up on screen, the monitor doesnt even come to life. where do i go from here? thanks

scheming_gypsy

if you're using your monitor on somebody else's pc how did that happen? did they bring their pc to you or did you take the monitor to them?
if they brought the pc to you there's a possibility the motherboard isn't securely seated and it's moved in transit shorting out when you've powered it up. if it's a custom build take it apart and rebuild it,

pre-reg

thanks for the above tip, they brought the pc to me. I might take the pc apart and try and bild it again. thanks to everyone for their help......regards