No Visual On Monitor ...

[gwf]

Ok, here's what I know ... I was operating something on the computer when all of a sudden there was a sudden shaking noise and the picture froze ... CTRL+ALT+DEL didn't work, so I had to reset the computer. Then when restarting, the screen remained black.

I tested the graphics card on another computer ... it works.
I tested the monitor on another computer ... it works.

Usually the monitor keeps an "orange" light on until recognized by the computer and then it turns "green." The light remains orange.

The motherboard, ram & cpu are all new.

Do you know what could be wrong? Please help me if you can.

Thanks,

gwf

[gwf]

Yeah ... I still don't know what it is ... please just let me know if you have ideas.


Could it be something with the motherboard? But then why would it happen mid-stream? Meaning, I was using it when it of a sudden happened.


gwf

[ski]

It could be due to a bad MB, CPU, RAM, or power supply.

Based on your hearing a noise when things went haywire, check the MB for a blown or burned component, like a capacitor.
Also, check the RAM for anything that looks abnormal.

If nothing looks amiss on the MB, then suspected items have to be swapped out to find the bad one.
The one exception is the power supply, which can be checked with a voltmeter.

And yes, things can and do go wrong even if components are new.

[ski]

Forgot to mention that something could have also blown inside the power supply.

[mjc]

What where you doing?


It could be that something changed the refresh rate to a value that the monitor cannot handle, most newer monitors will go into standby mode if the refresh rate is out of range.

Do you get anything showing before the OS loads? Like the BIOS screen or the memory check?

[gwf]

Has this place been temporarily "shut down?" I couldn't access it for the longest time.

I had just networked my two computers and had just tried out a new game with a friend. However, I don't know why that would have caused the problem. This computer I just put together, though with a amd 2100 xp and 512 ram, is mainly for general use. I use my other computer for my 3d graphics, animation, rendering, etc.

If somthing is wrong with the MB should I see something visually? I'm about to go get my power supply tested and see what else I can do.

When I start the computer now, it goes through the normal sounds of a computer booting. You know, the several fans come on, the HD makes it's little noise, there are those other sounds I cannot describe in words. However, the monitor remains black ... it doesn't respond (though for sure the monitor still works, and the graphics card).

gwf

[gwf]

Oh yeah ... why was this moved? Though it is the monitor that is expressing the problem (no visual) it is the hardware that is causing the problem (apparently something with HD, MB, CPU, or PS.

gwf

[Budfred]

You may not be able to see anything on the mobo, but the fact that there was a sound makes it more likely that something could have visibly blown. If you don't, it becomes a matter of testing components by process of elimination. The most likely causes of it going bad as you were working with it would be heat or power surge.

[gwf]

A solution has been found ... sort of.


To recap, my monitor works, my graphics card works, and also now for sure my power supply is still supplying adequate power. The problem now lies with either the CPU cooler or the MB. I'm not sure witch. I have a nice MSI KT3 MoBo so I don't think that's the problem; perhaps the cooler (a Coolermaster, the more silent kind). Though it doesn't put out as much air as the Antec, it is 25 Db compared to Antec's 48. My heavy processing (50 - 150 MB files) won't be used on this computer anyway, so it does the job quietly for me.

However, the problem lies in the connections. There wiring on the cooler or the pins on the MB. The ground and power wire appear to work well but there is an occasional problem with the sensory wire. If my cooler fan is not on (or if the MB thinks it's not on ... sensory issues) then it won't let my computer start up (a safety precaution to protect my CPU). As it is, everything is reset, repositioned, and I'm currently running that CPU at about 38 deg C and 6000-7000 rpm. And it is detected. So I'll wait and see if it happens again and consider replacing my new cooler.

Thanks for the help ...

gwf

[mjc]

Ok, see if your BIOS gives you the option to turn off the monitoring of the CPU fan.

[arclite]

Where was the 'shaking noise' from, the PC, the speakers?

How many drives do you have?

Try stripping the system down to 'vanilla' with a boot floppy, HDD's disconnected (both power and i/o), what noises does it make now?
Add the HDD(s) one by one and check each step for extras or absence of those noise things you get accustomed to. Continue adding your cherished components.... sometimes the best investment is the one you've already made.

[ronthomas]

i am having a similar problem....have you tried resetting the cmos using the onboard jumpers? I got the black screen and tried everything from new video cards, different memory, boot from floppy etc. Finally out of desperation I tried resetting the cmos using onboard jumpers and wallah I had video back but with a cmos error. so I checked all the settings and rebooted the system only to find myself looking at the black screen once again. So I can boot and get a video dispaly if I reset the cmos each and every time although eeven then the system locks before I actually get to a working screen. Let me know if you get display back by resetting the cmos using the onboard jumpers.

I REALLY #%#@-ed up and pulled the hd and put it in a backup system in order to retrieve my data...now I have 2 computers that do the exact same thing. I'm thinking virus.......what do you think?:(

[CuratoR]

Are you sure that your monitor and graphics card both are working good. I mean have u checked it properly in another system. Some monitors have to be turned on only after the comp has booted, so try turning off and then turning on the monitor after you have started the comp.
Have you tried resetting the BIOS.

[ronthomas]

yes I have checked out both the graphics card and monitor on another system...both work great. What baffles me is that when i put the hd in my backup system to retrieve my data the backup system developed the same problem.