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Need suggestions on a dead computer. (Solved, and ashamed)

PetercatPetercat Posts: 2,321
edited July 2017 in Technical Help (nuts n bolts)

We had a power failure, so I shut off my secondary computer. I have a big UPS.
Got the "Windows is shutting down" screen, but it never shut off.
Four hours later, the UPS finally ran out of juice and stopped feeding the beast.
Now when I power it on, the monitor doesn't show anything, as if it's not connected.
I tried the on-board graphics, as well as the Nvidia 960 hookups. Nothing.
Power is working, hard drive is spinning, no output to screen at any stage.
But the monitor shows which port it's hooked to, HDMI or VGA. Works fine with nother computer.
This isn't a vital computer, it's the one I watch videos on. I just don't want to buy another if I don't have to.
Anyone have any suggestions?

 

Post edited by Petercat on

Comments

  • JamesJABJamesJAB Posts: 1,760

    Here are a few suggestions 

    • Unplug the computer from the UPS and plug it directly into the wall outlet?
    • Clear the CMOS (Or while unplugged pull the battery on the motherboard for at least a minute)
    • Try the GPU in a different PCIE slot if it has one (Or try the GPU in another computer)
    • Remove all but one stick of RAM, and try booting with each of that computers sticks individualy)
    • Unplug all devices from the motherboard and boot with only the Motherboard, CPU, and RAM plugged in.
    • Try booting with RAM out of another computer.

     

  • WandWWandW Posts: 2,847

    Doe it beep when it Boots?  If it normally beeps when powering on, count the number of beeps and check here...

    https://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm

  • nonesuch00nonesuch00 Posts: 18,320

    Sometimes on a computer that has run a very long time they get very hot and so when they are finally shut down for a while some components loosen from their seating as the cool. So you should trying and reset all the add-on cards and such components.

    Sometimes a card or component that has worked for a decade running hot will break when power is cut and then it is later turned on because a circuit will break when cooling.

    I'd check what WandW said first though.

  • nicsttnicstt Posts: 11,715
    edited July 2017

    deleted post.

    I cant read obviously, power is getting through. :)

    Post edited by nicstt on
  • PetercatPetercat Posts: 2,321

    Thanks, everyone, I tried all of your suggestions, (no beeps, though) and nothing. I'm not even getting a basic boot screen.

    I'm pretty sure that what I have is the dreaded A/MF fault. Well, I still have a case, memory, hard drives etc, so I guess it's time to buy another used one. I can match mine for $119, I guess I'll do that. Appreciate the suggestions!

  • PadonePadone Posts: 3,804
    edited July 2017

    Another simple thingy you can do. Get a live linux dvd and see if it startups. If yes then it's probably the disk to be replaced. If not then it's probably the mobo to be replaced.

    Post edited by Padone on
  • j1039564j1039564 Posts: 19

    No output to screen sounds like a problem with RAM or the CPU.

    When RAM fail usually only a black screen, no beeps, but things spins up, like HDDS and chassi fans, but CPU fan only spins for a sec then stop.

    Usually when there is a problem with CPU there will be a series of BEEPS or a crappy recorded voice that say a message through a piezo speaker on the motherboard.

    Make sure ram and CPU works. Unplug ram and try them each one.

    If it does not work, "reset bios"(It's CMOS to be correct). Unplug battery or switch jumper to reset on motherboard. Then press start button to get rid of all power, wait 10 sec and put battery back.

     

     

     

  • PetercatPetercat Posts: 2,321
    edited July 2017

    Well. Turns out that I'm using a Samsung monitor that doesn't have the little screw-nuts to lock the cable in place.
    The cable picked that time to come loose - not falling out, but loose enough to stop it from showing anything.
    What I thought was the monitor showing HDMI input was the monitor searching for HDMI input.
    Pushed it back firmly, added duct tape. (If it moves and it shouldn't, apply duct tape)
    All is well!
    (And the inside of my computer is now clean and dust-free...)

    Post edited by Petercat on
  • JamesJABJamesJAB Posts: 1,760
    Petercat said:

    Well. Turns out that I'm using a Samsung monitor that doesn't have the little screw-nuts to lock the cable in place.
    The cable picked that time to come loose - not falling out, but loose enough to stop it from showing anything.
    What I thought was the monitor showing HDMI input was the monitor searching for HDMI input.
    Pushed it back firmly, added duct tape. (If it moves and it shouldn't, apply duct tape)
    All is well!
    (And the inside of my computer is now clean and dust-free...)

    If that monitor has an HDMI plug, then I would use that for your GTX 960.  

  • PetercatPetercat Posts: 2,321
    JamesJAB said:
    Petercat said:

    Well. Turns out that I'm using a Samsung monitor that doesn't have the little screw-nuts to lock the cable in place.
    The cable picked that time to come loose - not falling out, but loose enough to stop it from showing anything.
    What I thought was the monitor showing HDMI input was the monitor searching for HDMI input.
    Pushed it back firmly, added duct tape. (If it moves and it shouldn't, apply duct tape)
    All is well!
    (And the inside of my computer is now clean and dust-free...)

    If that monitor has an HDMI plug, then I would use that for your GTX 960.  

    That's what I'm doing, thanks!

  • barbultbarbult Posts: 24,870

    Good news!

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