# Please help me with my computer **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 26, 2002, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-computer/133945 "2002-10-26T04:36:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jayrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Jayrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayrot)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2002, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-computer/133945/1 "2002-10-26T04:36:49Z")
I just put together a system from parts that I ordered. After getting everything screwed in and connected, I turn on the power. The BIOS and splash screen come up but it doesn’t recognize the HDD so I turn off and change a jumper on the HDD and it recognizes everything. I put in my windows install disk and restart… no screen – totally black. so I futz around with it. Changing different things, basically talking out all the components, trying to get some form of life… nothing. Whats happening here? I cant get ANYTHING on the screen. Of course I tried checking the monitor cable and even reseating the video card but still no dice. please help! SPECS: ECS P4VXASD2+ Mobo ATI Radeon 9000 128MB vid card Western Dig 80GB HDD 512MB pc133 SDRAM :-(((((( ---
**Author:** ![El\_Gui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@El\_Gui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Gui)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2002, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-computer/133945/2 "2002-10-26T05:23:16Z")
Are you even getting any lights/beeps/sounds from anywhere (hard drive/fans/floppy)? About a year ago, I came back from vacation, turned on my computer but it wouldn’t recognize the hard drive. I restarted about three times or so and by the fourth attempt, nothing at all turned on. I took it in for a diagnostic and was told my mobo was fried, power supply no good, and HD gone. Never found out what caused what, but it appeared more likely the power supply was to blame. Hopefully your not in the same boat. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2002, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-computer/133945/3 "2002-10-26T05:35:57Z")
It’s hard to say, but in general it’s a good idea to start with the bare minimum. Make sure it works before adding the next component, so if you have problems you’ll have a good idea of what is causing it. My definition of “bare minimum” is only the video card, CPU and one memory module plugged into the motherboard. No drives at all. That’s enough to bring up the BIOS setup screen. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2002, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-computer/133945/4 "2002-10-26T10:09:48Z")
Make sure your hard drive and floppy drive are plugged in correctly. If one of them has a backward connection (so that’s four connections to play with) nothing will happen. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2002, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-computer/133945/5 "2002-10-26T11:34:48Z")
Problem MBs will tend to die quickly if they are going to die so it might be fried or the power supply might be fried. As far as diagnostics go here are things I generally do to sort out non-starter mobos. 1: Check CPU seating - make sure CPU fan is operating 2: Make sure memory modules and all PCI and video AGP cards are firmly socketed all the way into their slots. 3: Double check CPU speed and voltage jumpering 4: Use a known good drive and drive cable and see if the system boots with it. Douoble check all drive cable seating and cable polarity (ie red stripe to pin 1) 5: Do a minimum config boot with only video card installed and no other PCI cards and see if system boots. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2002, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-computer/133945/6 "2002-10-26T13:54:19Z")
In the bios, is everything set right? Did you check to see if it has an option to ‘safe boot’? You also have to turn off any bios protection schemes & virus protection schemes cuz it need to write a new boot sector & it can’t with that turned on. ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2002, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-computer/133945/7 "2002-10-26T21:41:45Z")
Start with removing all cards, hdds, drives, etc. Then remove and reseat the power cable. Remove and reseat the memory chips. Power on. You should be able to boot to BIOS, even with no hdd, cards, etc. (except the video card, you need that.) If this doesn’t work, try borrowing and testing with another SMPS. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2002, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-computer/133945/8 "2002-10-26T22:45:38Z")
xash, do you think he has enough power? Maybe his board needs a larger power supply, but we don’t know how much it is now. Would 300 watts do most boards? ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2002, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-help-me-with-my-computer/133945/9 "2002-10-27T05:34:14Z")
Yes