Major Computer Issue

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Nytemair

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Wannabe Geek

Topic # 58008 4-Mar-2010 11:49

Over the last year or so my desktop computer has acted up quite a lot.Last year I was forced to do a costly upgrade which ended up giving me a decent computer.However it seems to be acting up,I was using onboard video until a few months ago so I bought a video card.Everything was fine until a couple of weeks ago when I woke up and turned my computer on as normal,only to have the monitor say 'no video input' which was what it said when the onboard video stopped working.So I sent my video card back and it was found to be non-faulty.

While I was waiting for the video card to arrive back,my brother told me he thought that perhaps my power supply couldn't handle the video card.So I bought a new power supply,but after having my dad (a qualified tech) install it and check over everything,there was still no luck.That was a couple of days ago and since then I've had my brother check over it with no luck it still says 'no video input'.What's even more painstaking is that not only is it not working but everyone is baffled as to what could actually be the cause of the problem.The monitor was thought to be the problem as it's slighty temperamental but I have been using it with my laptop.Although since plugging the monitor back into my desktop it hasn't worked the same with my laptop.

Another thing we thought it was,was overheating.However my case has the temperature on the front of it and when I turned it on the other night (which was a hot night) the highest it got was 27 Degrees Celcius.

So I guess my main concern at this point is finding the cause of the problem.It's good to have my laptop for back-up to allow me to keep up with emails etc.But my laptop is far slower than my desktop and not only that but I can't access any of my important documents etc.So any help will be extremely appreciated.

Thanks
Samuel

gehenna

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Reply # 304355 4-Mar-2010 12:21

I wonder if the desktop is displaying a resolution that the monitor cannot handle? Can you see anything on the display when the PC is powered on and goes through POST?

Also did you turn of the onboard video in the BIOS?

Nytemair

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 304357 4-Mar-2010 12:26

It only displays a box with 'Attention Signal' in red and 'No Video Input' underneath it.Won't display anything else whatsoever.

gehenna

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Reply # 304360 4-Mar-2010 12:28

Have you got another monitor you can try it on? I realise your monitor works with your laptop but the next step would really be to try the PC on a different monitor altogether.

Nytemair

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 304361 4-Mar-2010 12:29

I've only tried a CRT so far.I'm thinking I may have to see if I can try my brother's monitor.

garvani

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Reply # 304365 4-Mar-2010 12:40

I could almost put money on it not being the monitor.

Do you get past post? does the machine beep around 5~10 seconds after turning it on? And theres only one beep?
It really could be a number of things to be honest. The easiest thing for you to do wil be to take it into a shop and have a tech look at it (who has spare parts to diagnose the actual problem). We only charge $40 to diagnose problems and if its an easy fix we will do it in that charge too (not that we are any good for you as we are located in blenheim, but my point was its not that expensive..) How much do you value your time and sanity versus the cost of someone else looking at it?

Nytemair

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 304375 4-Mar-2010 12:59

It probably gets to the log in screen,but I can't tell as nothing on the monitor changes.The monitor displays the same message when the computer isn't on,so therefore the monitor isn't even recognising that the computer is turned on.No beeps or anything,only sound to be heard is the fan.

Seeking professional advice would be the next thing I guess,but I'm taking any suggestions really haha.

garvani

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Reply # 304384 4-Mar-2010 13:11

is there an internal speaker in your case (or on your motherboard) and is it plugged into the spkr header on your motherboard? if the answer is yes to both then, theres a good chance theres a hardware fault as your not getting past post, but then it should be sounding an alarm (depending on the error present, some hardware faults dont give beep codes).

Also, put your ear to your hard drive when you turn it on, is there lots of activity as if its booting windows?

wreck90

780 posts

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Reply # 304392 4-Mar-2010 13:34

Could be one of these things:

Motherboard
Memory
CPU
Graphics card
Power supply
Monitor

If it's getting past post, I reckon it's your graphics card or monitor. I had a Samsung monitor which failed with similar symptoms to what you have described - one day it could not get an input signal. I knew it was the monitor since it had the same problem with another pc plugged in. Samsung replaced it under warranty.

If it's not getting past post, you'd have to try replacing each of the above components until it starts working. I'd take it to a computer service shop, they will have spares to test the various components.

zCelicaDude

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Reply # 304414 4-Mar-2010 14:20

Hi, Where abouts are you located (to the OP)

I have a heap of parts lying around of which I could chuck into your pc/diagnose what has gone wrong.

I run my own I.T Business from home,

Scott

Nytemair

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Wannabe Geek

Reply # 304433 4-Mar-2010 15:05

I'm in Christchurch.

ArcticSilver

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Reply # 305031 6-Mar-2010 15:21

A few questions:

What specs are your PC?

When you plugged in your CRT did it still show no signal/just not work?

Did you try plugging your monitor in to both ports on your graphics card?

Do you have more than one PCI-E slot?

Does your onboard work when you remove your graphics card?

What is your current power supply in watts?

Nytemair

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 305050 6-Mar-2010 16:32

ArcticSilver: A few questions:

What specs are your PC?

When you plugged in your CRT did it still show no signal/just not work?

Did you try plugging your monitor in to both ports on your graphics card?

Do you have more than one PCI-E slot?

Does your onboard work when you remove your graphics card?

What is your current power supply in watts?

1.Not sure on exact specs but I've got an AMD Athlon Dualcore CPU,2 GB RAM,not sure on exact motherboard.

2.Nothing came through on the CRT,exactly like with the LCD.

3.I tried both slots with no luck.

4.Unfortunately only 1 PCI-E slot.

5.The onboard is stuffed,which was the only reason I bought the graphics card.

6.Current power supply is a 550w.

ArcticSilver

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Reply # 305154 7-Mar-2010 01:57

Do you have another PC in the house of similar specs?

Also check your PC speaker cable and/or power signal cable is connected. This is important because it will tell you of ie a CPU fault.

powerforce

162 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 305464 8-Mar-2010 16:45

hi there, i had the exact same issue a couple of weeks back.
Sometimes when i turned my computer on i would get the black screen and "no signal imput" thing showing on screen, othertimes it would start up - but crash completly once it booted to windows.
(everything would freeze up, couldent move mouse or anything - i had to turn power off completly)

It started doing it more frequently, and I also a note saying "your graphics driver has failed but has recovered"
After awile my comp wouldent work at all, it would just freeze or say no signal input.

Anyway the fix. I took all the cards out of my computer - graphics card, wireless card etc.
They were all very dusty. I removed all the dust from the fans etc and went over the cards with some cotton buds to get all the dust off.
I also removed a little metal retainer thing that i suspected may have been stopping the graphics card from seating properly into the PCI-E slot.
Started the comp after that and its been 100% ever since.
If its a fairly old comp try giving everything a good clean - dust is bad. Also make sure the graphics card is in properly. Make sure the little metal retainer bit that comes with most store bought PC's isnt preventing your card from seating properly
Good luck