Computer starts but nothing happens - Tech Support Forums

joeschmo88 · September 24th, 2006, 03:31 PM

hi, my neighbor is asking me if i could fix his computer. this is a great task for me because im majoring in the computers and its a good way to get some pc support skils in handy. so they told me that their computer is powered and turns on......but nothing appears in the monitor. just a blank screen. they told me it just "humms". so what should i consider first? operating system? display problems? its also a pretty old computer. what should i do first?

dzee · September 24th, 2006, 05:07 PM

if i were you the first things i would do is:

try a different monitor just to make sure, this never works but its worth a try might be something really simple like a loose cable connecting the monitior.

are they usin a graphics card? if so switch to onboard video & see if that works. if theyre using onboard already try switching to a graphics card & see if that does anything.

that would be my first things to try.

DallasDon · September 24th, 2006, 05:13 PM

Take the cover off before powering up. If there truly is nothing on the screen, which includes the BIOS screen, and it "humms", the number one cause is a weak power supply.

Notice if the cooling fans start up when you press the power button.

take it outside and blow the dust out of the case and PSU. Unplug, clean the contatcts, and reseat any memory or expansion cards.

Try a known good power supply if none of this works.

joeschmo88 · September 24th, 2006, 05:13 PM

thank you...i'll try those first. i'll update you as soon as i get to test things out at their place.

stroyal · September 24th, 2006, 06:20 PM

Just to expand on what DallasDon said, the only real way to find out what is wrong with a computer is try the parts from the broken computer in another computer or trying known good parts in the broken computer. This is how a computer shop would do it. Manufacturers have test equipment, but it is just for their products and are not available to most people.

brickhead248 · October 7th, 2006, 12:41 AM

I bet their RAM is fried, try their RAM out in another computer, if it works, put it back in, its not the RAM, but if i dosent, get some new RAM. if its an old computer, manifacturers probably wont sell the computer's type of RAM, so look on ebay.

joeschmo88 · October 7th, 2006, 12:45 PM

alright thanx guys...i'll try all the advice. about taking things out of the computer, i still have no experience in doing that kind of stuff. so im a little iffy about removing parts and putting them back in. something i need to experience, but i dont want to start with someone elses comp.

mrniceguy · October 7th, 2006, 12:59 PM

it's not difficult, just gotta remember 2 things:
1: remember to turn off the computer

I usually physically unplug it

2: never touch anything if you're not in contact with the case(grounded)

dr_roberts49 · October 7th, 2006, 01:47 PM

It's a process of deduction. Try to eliminate everything that does work. When you come to the component that doesn't work, try it in another system. If it fails there, you know you've found the problem. That's exactly what we did in the service dept I worked in for several years, and it is now what I do on the computers I work on for myself and my family and friends.

Robert

dwillis77 · October 28th, 2006, 07:49 PM

Hey guys.

This same thing happened to me today. For months my computer has been working fine, running games well, etc. etc.

Then today after playing some battlefield I decided for the first time I would put the computer on stand-by. Came back an hour later and could see and hear the computer was on but nothing appeared on the monitor.

I have already swaped out the video card, monitors, etc. etc. Was working fine until I did stand-by...any other suggestions, this is very frustrating.