Hi Everyone,

I'm not exactly sure if the problem i'm experiencing with this new computer i've got is motherboard/cpu related, thats pretty much what i want to find out. A friend of mine brought me his computer and asked me to fix it... the problem i'm experiencing with this computer is when i try switching it on, absolutely nothing appears on the monitor. The monitor i'm using does work because it's one of my own, its a brand new Flatron so it can't be the monitor thats giving the problem. I also connected my mouse and keyboard to this computer and even connecting those two devices i see that the red lazer at the bottom of my optical mouse doesn't even come on. My keyboards num/caps/scroll lock lights don't come on either when i try pushing those buttons.

I'm completely lost with regards to what is wrong with this computer, i'm assuming it's some hardware related mulfunction of some sort which i am not too sure how to pin-point. Could anyone give me some advice as to what i should maybe do to figure out what is wrong with this computer?

Any help will be greatly appreciated .

Thanks guys

What happens when you power on? Do your fans spin?

I'm thinking either fried motherboard or a burned out power supply. Try switching out a different power supply first.

Just in case it may help someone assist you further, can you give specs of this rig in question?

Computador Português? Simples... pôe o cabo elétrico na tomada da parede... (humor Brasileiro, não se preocupe...) (translation: Portuguese computer? Plug the power cable into the wall outlet... Brasilian humor, Brasilians and Portuguese bag on each other all the time)

Back on topic, though, this is how I'd go through this, by the numbers...

Check to make sure the PSU isn't dead. If it is dead, NOTHING is going to work... Plug it into another computer that you know works fine, and if it fires right up, it's not the PSU. If it doesn't, well, there's a starting point...

Move on to the video card... Pull it and check it in another computer... Nothing on the screen, video card is dead...

Basically, you can isolate the problem by testing all the components in a computer that you KNOW works... The last thing to check (b/c it would be the biggest PITA to check) would be the CPU itself...

Bottom line, if everything else but the motherboard works, then your buddy needs to buy a new one, simple as that... If not, at least you know what he needs to buy to get back up and running again...

1) Check Powersupply (connect green to black with a paper clip and use a CD rom as a load) if CD-ROM turns on then GOTO #2
2) If PSU=Good, then Connect it to the mobo. If mobo=good then GOTO #3
3) Add in Memory. If comp still boots go to 4
4) Add in GPU. if comp still boots goto 5
5) Add in HDD and or CDROM and/or floppy. IF still boots then goto 6
6) If you are here, then there is nothing wrong.

Some of these steps are interchangable with each other, but usualy should be follwed in this order. If you know where the problem maybe, modify them in your favor (use common sense)

Quote: Originally Posted by subdismal What happens when you power on? Do your fans spin? I'm thinking either fried motherboard or a burned out power supply. Try switching out a different power supply first. Just in case it may help someone assist you further, can you give specs of this rig in question?

Hi Subdismal ,

My fans do spin. When i turn it on and have everything connected it sounds like its booting up with the fans spinning and the hard drives working etc, but nothing appears on the screen. To answer your last question, as far i as i can see from looking at this rigs intestines, it's a P4, 256MB RAM, 160Gig HD, i'm not sure how fast this computer is but i'm guessing its close to or either above 2.0 Ghz judging from the other specs... graphics card i'm not sure cause it doesn't say anywhere on the actual card.

Thanks for the help

Quote: Originally Posted by GrandpaNoob72 Computador Português? Simples... pôe o cabo elétrico na tomada da parede... (humor Brasileiro, não se preocupe...) (translation: Portuguese computer? Plug the power cable into the wall outlet... Brasilian humor, Brasilians and Portuguese bag on each other all the time) Back on topic, though, this is how I'd go through this, by the numbers... Check to make sure the PSU isn't dead. If it is dead, NOTHING is going to work... Plug it into another computer that you know works fine, and if it fires right up, it's not the PSU. If it doesn't, well, there's a starting point... Move on to the video card... Pull it and check it in another computer... Nothing on the screen, video card is dead... Basically, you can isolate the problem by testing all the components in a computer that you KNOW works... The last thing to check (b/c it would be the biggest PITA to check) would be the CPU itself... Bottom line, if everything else but the motherboard works, then your buddy needs to buy a new one, simple as that... If not, at least you know what he needs to buy to get back up and running again...

Ah Rapaz! ...lol.. I might not be the best when dealing with the hardware side of computers but i'm certainly not the worst! ...lol.

Your approach to solving this problem is exactly what i was planning on doing, only reason why i haven't applied that method yet is because i've never done it before. I'm going to give it a shot and CAREFULLY test each component out starting with the video card.

Thanks for the help

Quote: Originally Posted by Nerdz 1) Check Powersupply (connect green to black with a paper clip and use a CD rom as a load) if CD-ROM turns on then GOTO #2 2) If PSU=Good, then Connect it to the mobo. If mobo=good then GOTO #3 3) Add in Memory. If comp still boots go to 4 4) Add in GPU. if comp still boots goto 5 5) Add in HDD and or CDROM and/or floppy. IF still boots then goto 6 6) If you are here, then there is nothing wrong. Some of these steps are interchangable with each other, but usualy should be follwed in this order. If you know where the problem maybe, modify them in your favor (use common sense)

Hi Nerdz ,

Those are some excellent steps which i will definitely follow .

Thanks a million guys, i will let you guys know how it turns out .

Are there any beep codes that are happening? Also, is there even the standard single beep code for normal boot? If not, check to make sure the internal speaker is connected and try booting again. Listen for any beep codes and get back to us.

Personally, I feel that there is a 95% chance that the video card is blown... possibly the VGA slot on the mobo.