View Full Version : Blank screen
damdash
Jan 15, 2010, 06:09 AM
You can hear the computer boot up and hear it running. The only thing it that will come up is a No Signal screen. If I hit the reset button it will just shut off now. This is a Dell Optiplex desktop. Lights on the keyboard come on. Can someone tell me what's going on?
WallyHelps
Jan 15, 2010, 06:16 AM
Make sure the video cable is securely fastened at both ends. Try a different cable if you have one handy.
Good luck,
WallyH
seahwk83
Jan 15, 2010, 07:27 PM
2 issues with no signal
-monitor or the video card
As mentioned above, confirm cable is in firmly
If you have access to a known working monitor, connect that monitor to the computer and see if it works with the PC
-If you still get no signal with known working monitor, looks as it would be the video card that is shot
-if known working one works, you know there is a prob with your orig monitor
InfoJunkie4Life
Jan 16, 2010, 12:09 PM
Just for the record, there may be other culprits. There have been two scenarios I have come across where I thought the same, and found out hours later that I was wrong.
1. Both the hard drive and cpu were fried. It sounded like it was booting, however the hard drive just kicked in for a while, and then quit. The cpu would fire the fans for while then quit.
2. There was another faulty pci card that interfered with the video. The on board failed and so did the agp card. When I removed the faulty pci card, it worked fine (actually I found this by rebuilding another computer with the parts from this one, and that video failed after inserting the pci).
I wouldn't consider these on a regular basis, I am just stating for the sake of rarity. I've done hundreds of repairs, and I've only seen either of those once.
damdash
Jan 17, 2010, 01:49 PM
Well I had another cpu available to check and found the monitor does work. Will be checking the video card later and hopefully this is the furthest I have to go.
cdad
Jan 31, 2010, 12:23 PM
Does the video card have more then one output ? The reason for asking is that if it does it could have switched monitors on you. It would make the "other" monitor your main one and the one plugged in would appear dead as number2.
damdash
Feb 1, 2010, 06:11 PM
No it only had one connection and it was the video card