My Dad’s PC has developed a bit of a problem, more times than not it doesn’t start up and nothing happens. Power is getting to the PC (I can hear fans whirring inside) but nothing appears on screen and I get a “no input” message from the monitor. When the PC does start up it often freezes and I have to physically reset it. The only thing of note that we’ve changed about the PC is a new broad band connection with a USB modem and the software that comes with it.
I suspected that the hard drive is ok, as the computer turns on but nothing at all comes up on screen. To save Dad buying a whole new machine I was wondering what part of the PC might be causing trouble.
Sounds like something has dislodged inside. Mine does this when my memory chips come loose.
If you are comfortable fiddling around inside, do this:
- Power down, turn off the PC and disconnect all power to it
- Open up the case
- Remove each of the card inside, and re-insert them, making sure they are firmly seated
- Make sure all the memory chips are pushed in all the way (careful not to break them !)
- Close up the case, power up and see what happens.
Failing that, go the “elimination” route: remove everything non-essential (including networking, any other interface cards). As a minimum you’ll need to keep the video card, unless you’re using onboard video, in which case you can remove even the video card. Power up, and if it works, you know that one of the things you removed was the problem. Start adding things back until the problem occurs: when it does, the last thing you added was the problem.
One last thought: this can happen when PCs overheat. Is it running particularly hot?
Worst case is that the motherboard is dead, in which case you’ll need to replace it; this is tantamount to building a new computer, albeit using parts you already have.
Do everything you can to the monitor. Unplug, replug, turn on before you turn on the CPU, etc.
I forgot the obvious: before any of that, a simple test would be to try it with another monitor. However, the fact that it occasionally boots then freezes suggests the problem lies elsewhere.
Thanks for the suggestions, I thought the monitor wasn’t really the problem. I should be ok to open up the PC and check for loose connections, if it looks like the motherboard then at least we could keep everything else we already have for the computer and replace it.
The annoying thing is that Dad would rather fiddle about and worry about unlikely problems like someone putting a virus or trying to “hack into” our computer, methinks he’s watched a few too many cheap films on TV in his spare time 