WantzChas
I came across a problem on my other computer when I wanted to try do a recording.
When I turn my computer up the screen doesn't "activate" and stays in a state of "sleep", with the standby light flashing. I know the screen works fine as I'm using it now to post this message. When it boots, the computer makes a long beep tone, normally it makes a fast single beep. It then goes into Windows and everything, I can hear the Windows start up sounds.
I assumed it must be my 3D card that is causing the problem, I have a Biostar nVidia GeForce 7600GT 256mb 3d card and I'm running Windows Vista Home Basic. I have checked that everything is stil in place.
Please help
AlanRatcliffe
Does the screen light up when it goes through the first bios screen, but go into standby when it goes into Windows? If so, boot into safe mode and change resolution and refresh rate to the lowest settings (something like 640X480, 60Hz) and it should boot normally. Then experiment on changing the settings from within Windows.
If it's completely dead on that computer (I presume you mean you're using the monitor on another computer?), it's most likely your video card dying. Remove it, clean off the contacts where it plugs in and put it back. Check that you don't have a bent pin in the monitor cable plug, and if you have it, use contact cleaner to spritz out the cable socket on the card. Other than that, not much you can do, and you'll have to try other video cards to see if that fixes it.
WantzChas
Thanks Alan, it is the second situation. The monitor doesn't light up at all.
Renesongs
What Alan said. Plus
This is a problem that I have encountered often. The beep is the Bios POST (Power on self test) signal which alerts you to the fact that there is a faulty hardware component. Different beeps mean different components are broken. The long beep usual means the Graphic display is faulty. Jiggle or replacing the Video card. . Next on the list is the RAM memory chips they also cause a video malfunction, wiggle or replace. If still no joy it could be the CPU overheating because the thermal gel between the CPU and the Heat sink has dried up, remove heat sink and add new gel. Still no joy means that the main board or the Bios itself is faulty which means replace machine.
doc-phil
I just had the same problem with my PC, except is didnt beep at all when starting up... i tried all of the above-mentioned stuff and nothing helped, so eventually i took it to my dad's work and it turns out the motherboard is fried ☹
glug
Hey man. That def sounds like a ram problem. if you have two or more ram modules take 1 out at a time or even try swapping the slots. It def sounds like memory
FenderBender
There are different POST beep codes for each of the 4 major BIOS manufacturers. Find out what BIOS chipset is on your motherboard and check the tables at
http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm to be sure.
Because you have no video on your hard primary boot, you won't be able to read the name of the BIOS manufacturer there. Check the motherboard manual or open the case and read the name stamped on the BIOS microprocessor.
WantzChas
Thank you for all the replies. I can't imagine it being a RAM problem as my computer boots as normal and goes into Windows, I know that although the screen is blank, because I can hear the Windows start-up sounds. I removed both my graphics card and my RAM chip (one 1Gb chip) and replaced both.
Then I encounter a new problem, which was caused by either my stupidity or really bad luck. When I put everything back and tried to start up my computer again it switched on, but there was nothing. it didn't boot at all. I can only think off putting the RAM chip in back up side down, or right side up or who knows although I paid a lot of attention when taking the RAM chip out.
The computer wasn't connected to any sort of power, I was grounded when I removed the RAM chip (heard a tall tale that it might influence, so I took precaution anyway).
Am I f@#$#?
FenderBender
Try going through the same motions again. Remove and reseat your graphics card and RAM. The RAM module is made to fit only one way, unless you really force it. It is possible that either the RAM or card did not click into position correctly, or that you have an intermittent problem on your motherboard or card.
AlanRatcliffe
RAM chips are "keyed" so that they only fit in one way. Make sure that it is the right way round and seated in the socket properly. I wouldn't have changed the RAM anyway. Change one thing at a time to test, starting with the thing most likely to be the problem - which in this case is the video card. So for now, put back your old RAM and the new video card and try boot up. Make sure both are seated properly.
If your PC won't boot now, it's probable that one of the two new components is not compatible with your computer - Make sure that the RAM is the same speed as your old RAM or that your motherboard supports the speed that it runs at.
To be honest, if it isn't the video card, I would suspect that the culprit would be the motherboard. The video subsystem is all to do with those two.
WantzChas
I have four RAM slots, does it matter in which one I put the chip?
EDIT: It doesn't. My computer starts up again, but with faulty graphics cars. I know it is my card, I disabled it and ran it with the monitor straight into the motherboard and it worked. Now I assume it is my graphics card.
The only thing I can think of next in trying is to download the latest drivers. Will I be able to install the drivers onto my computer when I'm disabling the graphics card?
AlanRatcliffe
Drivers aren't going to help. The default windows drivers should work if the proper ones don't. See if your video card manufacturer has a "remove drivers" utility, then try the default Windows ones - if they don't work, the card is more than likely dead.
WantzChas
Thanks a lot for everyone's input. I think my card died on my. I'm going to let someone look at it for confirmation. Strange cause it just stopped working all of a sudden when I started it up.
FenderBender
Cold starts place heavy stress on electronic components, so failures at startup are very common.
As Alan mentioned, if you are not seeing video on your initial boot, then drivers won't help you much there.
If the cards on your PCs are cross compatible, try swapping them around and see if the fault follows the suspect card. Also, check the display adapter settings in the BIOS (when you boot using the embedded graphics chip on the motherboard) and look for setting options that could affect the operation of the GeForce. I doubt the problem would lie here though, unless settings were changed just before the fatal boot.
If you're still in the dark after checking the above, then it would be safe to assume that the force has left your GeForce. If you still have the invoice for the card / system, check the warranty status. Some manufacturers supply extended guarantees with selected components. Incidently, did you manage to decode the beep tones generated by the POST?
Heath
Sounds like a gpu failure , but the cause is what you should be worried about , i would also have the power supply tested , to many times i have pronounced something dead to only find a week later it was a faulty powersupply . disconnect everything not essential to the system (cdrom / harddrive / any pci cards ) and try turning the system on then if it fires up , and doesn't with everything else plugged in , replace the psu , unless you can get yourself a proper psu tester most pc shops have them .
Gearhead
Eh.. are you sure it's not the PSU? Easy to check with a different one.
MoJo-JoJoe
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WantzChas
After closer expection it was determined that my graphics card's fan broke. Apparently I can replace that. Thanks everyone.
