Hi all,
I'm trying to build my own computer without my husband's help so I can learn stuff along the way. My first obstacle is that the monitor has no signal. The computer I am upgrading is my brother's old one and I played cards on it just last week before he gave it to me. When I brought it home and started it up (no modifications yet) there was 'no signal'.
It is not the monitor or the cables as I have tried them on another computer. I swapped the graphics card to another computer and that works fine too. Is there something else that could be loose? This is the stupidist problem to have, but I'm sure I'll learn some good jargon with your answers.

colbtech

The obvious thing to do is:

Open the box (which you have done) and push anything that looks like a plug, card, processor or RAM into the socket.

Power on...does the fan go around? If not, check the fuse. If thats OK could be the power supply is bust.

If the fan goes around, can you hear the disk being accessed? If not then the computer is not running and just about anything could be at fault. Second guessing or remote trouble shooting any electronics is a waste of time. But at least you have checked the basics.

A word of caution.."When handling static sensitive devices always make sure that you are grounded" and "Remove power before handling the electronics"

Good Luck

Press2Esc

Note the "beep" pattern when the PC 1st boots. Also, does the monitor screen change (eg., bllink, lose sync, change shades of "black", etc)? If the monitor, cable and video card checks out with another system, see for a possible builtin video port on the MB. If there is no onboard video, did/can you try another expansion slot?

Good Luck

P2E

Raych

Power seems ok as the fan spins and I can hear the hard drive whir.
The screen just clicks on with 'no signal', it is a consistent (irritating) message with no flickering. If I unplug it from the monitor port it goes to 'No connection'. I've pushed in everything I can, and I think I'm earthing myself (not totally sure, probably stuffed everything!).
Tell me more about the onboard video card bit, I think I have that.
I do remember a beep from the BIOS (is that what beeps?) but will have to go home and listen carefully to it and let you know. (Logging on from work).

colbtech

If you hold down the F2 key when powering up you should enter the BIOS setup utility. This is a small piece of software (microcode) that is not on the harddisk. Your computer should power up into this utility which is nothing to do with windows. Be careful not to change any settings unless you KNOW that the particular setting is incorrect.

If you get to the setup utility, you will now know that the system is OK and it is either the windows software or the disk access that is at fault.

Check for the correct orientation of the IDE cable (DISK 40 way ribbon cable) on both the motherboard and the disk. Check that the disk has the 4-way(?) power lead connected. (Generally the leads on the disk drives cannot be connected the wrong way, but you never know)

Keep at it.

Press2Esc

Assuming you get a single beep at bootup... you are probably NOT looking at a bad video card or monitor - maybe a BIOS setting. Since you are getting the messages/text on the screen says you are getting basic sync, high voltage is working and the video data is properly being "processed".

Is yor monitor plugged into a builtin or add-on (AGP, PCI) video controller card?? Also, check to see if your system HAS a builtin (MB) video port!! If you have 2 video ports, you should check your BIOS to enable/disable the correct video source accordingly.

Good luck mate (or is that matris?)...

P2E

Raych

Ok,
One beep from BIOS on startup. Pressed F2, no change to screen, however computer beeped (that sound when you are leaning on a key) but this time the hard drive did the extra higher pitched whir. At least I know the keyboard works! But no access to BIOS available.
Going to buy new IDE cable on the weekend to try that out.
I have a built in sound card, but no on board video card. There is only one brown coloured slot that the video card is plugged in to, so I assume I only have one video port? Or is the port different to the slot?
Geez, I feel so blonde.

colbtech

Try F12, that may get you into the BIOS. My PC shows F2 for BIOS and F12 for SETUP. Yours may be slightly different?

Have you tried starting Windows in Safe Mode? I think that is hit and hold F8 key just after power on. That may get you access if the graphics card or monitor is being asked to display in a resolution that is not available.

Raych

No luck with the F12 thing, but then I unplugged my brother's two hard drives and plugged in my new one and hey presto! Working monitor. My BIOS set up shows as F1, so I'll know that for the future! Thanks for your help Colbtech & P2E.
My next problem is the 'PXE-E61 Media test failure, check cable'.
I have no idea what media it is talking about. I also have a disk boot failure.
Suggestions welcome, although I'll try reading the motherboard manual that my dad found yesterday, and doing an internet search. Thanks again guys!

colbtech

Hi Raych,

Check the settings for the hard drive in the BIOS. As you have changed the type and size of the drive the original BIOS settings will be incorrect.