posted
My computer broke last night and I'd like to fix it if I can. Any help would be appreciated!
Here's what happened:
I booted up my desktop and put on a movie. After the movie was over, I went back to my desktop. The monitor was off (which often happens as a power saving device). I jiggled the mouse to wake it back up and nothing happened.
So, I figured I'd try rebooting - I moved to hit the power button and nothing happened. Well, I know sometimes my computer freezes, but I can always hit the reset button followed by the power button and it'll cut off. This time, though, it doesn't work. The monitor has continued to be black this whole time.
OK, so I physically unplug it (and of course it shuts off). I wait a few minutes and plug it back in and it immediately boots back up - I don't even have to hit the power button. Even though the computer is booting up, the monitor is still black.
I plugged my monitor into my lap top to make sure the monitor is still working (it is).
So, my first inclination is that it's my video card (especially since the fan doesn't spin well). So, tonight I went out and bought another video card (a cheap 25$ one - all I use my computer for is for word processing and listening to music).
I unplugged the computer, swapped out video cards, and replugged it in. Again, the moment I plugged it back in the computer booted up. But the monitor is still black.
So, it's not my graphics card....
a friend of mine suggested it may be that my AGP slot (my only AGP slot) is broken.
If this is the case, is there anyway I can fix it? I'm moderately ok with computer stuff, but I've never messed with anything MOBO related, other than putting RAM.
Also, it seems like my power source may be having issues. Ideas?
posted
I can't (cheaply). Why do you think it's my monitor?
I feel like since I can plug my monitor into my laptop and have the display come up on the desktop that the problem must be elsewhere (but you almost certainly know more than I).
Posts: 168 | Registered: Jul 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
You should be able to disable the auto reboot in your BIOS. Sorry I don't have anything else to offer.
Posts: 1945 | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
The odds that your AGP slot is bad are very, very low. It's more likely that your machine isn't POSTing at all. In either case, your PC is probably not fixable.
Given the other options, it would be a relief to try another monitor and discover that, for whatever reason, it displays stuff. Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Perhaps. Of course, you'll spend more than your computer's worth just to have them diagnose the problem.
Posts: 1945 | Registered: Jul 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
When you say that your computer still boots up, what do you mean? Does it beep after you turn it on, does the hard drive spin, do you hear the Windows intro sound after a minute?
The POST (power-on self-test) is the first thing your computer does when you turn it on. It's when the motherboard checks to see if all the basic hardware is present and functioning. If it doesn't POST, it usually means a problem with the motherboard, CPU, or RAM.
Your replacement video card might be bad too. Any chance you could test it out in someone else's computer?
Also, why do you think your power supply is having issues? A bad power supply can destroy the other components in your system, so it's important to take care of that.
Posts: 9945 | Registered: Sep 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
When I say the computer boots up, I mean that when I turn the computer on, I can hear the hard drive/fans spin up. More generally, it sounds just like it did before I had any problems. There is no beeping.
As far as the Windows intro...my computer is password protected. I've tried waiting awhile (after initially booting up) and inputting my password, but nothing seems to happen (i.e., no Windows sound)
As far as testing out my card on another person's computer - I don't really have a way of doing that soon, maybe on Monday or Tuesday...
I think my power supply is having issues because at the moment, if the computer has a power supply, it's on (harddrives/fans spinning, etc). The only way to get it off is to physically unplug it. The moment its plugged, it automatically boots itself up. Previously, I had to hit a button to turn it on.
Is there a way I can tell if its posting or not?
Posts: 168 | Registered: Jul 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
There's an alternative to physically unplugging your machine. Hold the power button for about 5 seconds, and the machine will turn off. This is the kinder, gentler way to do a hard shutdown on your computer. Also, it works on pretty much any machine that has a 'soft power' switch, which means virtually every computer built in the last 8 years.
TomD's probably right about the problem occurring during the POST process. During POST, the computer performs basic checks of the hardware and initializes various components. If one of those components is failing - and it could be anything at this point - then you won't get a complete boot process. Sometimes, this results in an error code on the monitor, or a series of beeps from the internal speaker. When you get nothing, that can still tell you something.
You could try unplugging everything from the back of the computer (including power), press and hold the power button for about sixty seconds. Then, plug everything back in and press the power button to turn the system on. See if you get a display after this. It's a start...
Posts: 1813 | Registered: Apr 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
After searching several forums, I decided to take a flashlight to my MOBO and inspect it for any sort of damage.
After I did that, I tried booting it up again, and it booted up just fine, monitor and all. Apparentally, my Mobo just REALLY wanted a flashlight shined on it. Mobos don't photosynthesize do they?
I hate computers.
Anyway, thanks for your help everyone. I wish I had some clue what REALLY went wrong so that I can prevent it/fix it in the future. But for now, I think I'm done fighting with it.
Posts: 168 | Registered: Jul 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
Consider it a transient glitch and remember it for future reference. You don't know that this wasn't a symptom of another problem. I'm not saying you should worry, but you should remember, just in case you start experiencing problems six months down the road.
I'm glad your problem is solved. Posts: 1813 | Registered: Apr 2001
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by Mathematician: I think my power supply is having issues because at the moment, if the computer has a power supply, it's on (harddrives/fans spinning, etc). The only way to get it off is to physically unplug it. The moment its plugged, it automatically boots itself up. Previously, I had to hit a button to turn it on.
Some computers have a BIOS setting that causes it to act this way when it's been unplugged. I don't think it's anything to worry about.
quote:Is there a way I can tell if its posting or not?
Some computers have an internal speaker that beeps once if it POSTs fine or gives you different beeps if there's a problem. Without the speaker or any output to the monitor, it's hard to tell. I think if you see the hard drive and optical drive lights come on, then you know that it has POSTed okay.
Posts: 9945 | Registered: Sep 2002
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
