HELP!!!!!

[DiAmOnD]

Ok here goes, My Computer just recently started acting up in the
sense that Ill be on then all of sudden the Screen goes black however
PC is still running but all programs stop. knowing this by being on
teamspeak and they can no longer hear me or I them. That is not my
problem This is my problem I was able to shut computer down unplug
monitor cause i thought it was my monitor and Reboot and everything
would come back up it then might be fine for a Few Days or maybe a
few minutes only time would Tell. I Switched monitors with wifes Same
Problem Everything goes black and PC Still running HD PC fan etc. So
then I try Vid cards Then Same thing happens with other vid card. Now
its even harder To get it to Boot up The monitor still Keeps Saying
system test check Signal Cable Flashing on the screen then it Shuts
itself to Sleep mode like there is no signal to the Monitor. But I
know there is a Signal you can hear it click and if the monitor goes
to sleep if i shut down pc let it sit then plug monitor cable back in
it will bring it out of sleep. Ive Even been trying to go from
Secondary Vid card to onboard however it is disabled in Windows and
automagically switched in bios Ive had it to the boot screen a
couple times now it would either get to windows boot screen and then
the monitor would shut off and then flash no signal also either it
would get to the first start up Diagnostics screen where it would Say
Nvida GEFOrce and then just hang there.. What im really thinking now
is that I might have had a Virus but it was fixable by rebooting or
Clearing CMOS with Jumper also have Removed battery for 3 hours but
now I cant even get to the First Boot Screen to CMOS Config Because
the monitor wont Fire up. I am Positive it is not the Monitor or
Vidcard and the MOtherboard is brandnew 2months old HDD is brandnew 2
months old SATA hdd.. I would really like to know how I might be able
to Reformat this HDD Really im just at a Loss Or how do I force the
Motherboard to go back to ONboard VIdeo???????????? I have the new
MB with the SATA Cable with ATA HDD using the the SATA RIBBON I have
my other MB but it doesnt have the SATA Only IDE Do they make a SATA
HDD to IDE cable??And where could I find it? I really apologize For
the Confusing Description of my Problem I have just tried Every
Troubleshooting thing I know.. <Like I said I was able to get the
pc to run for a Few Days Before now its been 2 days and I cant get
anything now..WHAT DO I DO?

 

[ropeyarn]

Ok here goes, My Computer just recently started acting up in the
sense that Ill be on then all of sudden the Screen goes black however
PC is still running but all programs stop. knowing this by being on
teamspeak and they can no longer hear me or I them. That is not my
problem This is my problem I was able to shut computer down unplug
monitor cause i thought it was my monitor and Reboot and everything
would come back up it then might be fine for a Few Days or maybe a
few minutes only time would Tell. I Switched monitors with wifes Same
Problem Everything goes black and PC Still running HD PC fan etc. So
then I try Vid cards Then Same thing happens with other vid card. Now
its even harder To get it to Boot up The monitor still Keeps Saying
system test check Signal Cable Flashing on the screen then it Shuts
itself to Sleep mode like there is no signal to the Monitor. But I
know there is a Signal you can hear it click and if the monitor goes
to sleep if i shut down pc let it sit then plug monitor cable back in
it will bring it out of sleep. Ive Even been trying to go from
Secondary Vid card to onboard however it is disabled in Windows and
automagically switched in bios Ive had it to the boot screen a
couple times now it would either get to windows boot screen and then
the monitor would shut off and then flash no signal also either it
would get to the first start up Diagnostics screen where it would Say
Nvida GEFOrce and then just hang there.. What im really thinking now
is that I might have had a Virus but it was fixable by rebooting or
Clearing CMOS with Jumper also have Removed battery for 3 hours but
now I cant even get to the First Boot Screen to CMOS Config Because
the monitor wont Fire up. I am Positive it is not the Monitor or
Vidcard and the MOtherboard is brandnew 2months old HDD is brandnew 2
months old SATA hdd.. I would really like to know how I might be able
to Reformat this HDD Really im just at a Loss Or how do I force the
Motherboard to go back to ONboard VIdeo???????????? I have the new
MB with the SATA Cable with ATA HDD using the the SATA RIBBON I have
my other MB but it doesnt have the SATA Only IDE Do they make a SATA
HDD to IDE cable??And where could I find it? I really apologize For
the Confusing Description of my Problem I have just tried Every
Troubleshooting thing I know.. <Like I said I was able to get the
pc to run for a Few Days Before now its been 2 days and I cant get
anything now..WHAT DO I DO?

You might try using commas and paragraphs for starters.

My best guess is that you possibly started off with a power supply
problem, but maybe didn't do adequate troubleshooting before mucking
around with BIOS/CMOS settings.

Based on where you are at now....sounds like the mb itself may be a
suspect. Although from your description above, I can't be sure if you
are describing concern principally over video output or hard drive
activity.

Try this first:
No caffeine for 4 hours. Deep cleansing breaths. Short sentences with
punctuation. Try and separate the things you think are wrong from the
things you know are working. You're right about one thing...you did
blaze ahead with nearly every troubleshooting available

 

[Odie Ferrous]

Look up the word, "succinct" in any dictionary.

Try to apply that to your post. And, of course, as a previous poster
has already noted, paragraphs would be welcomed.

You may get a useful response.

To be honest, I lost track after the first couple of lines and didn't
bother to read further.


Odie

 

[Odie Ferrous]

Ok here goes, My Computer just recently started acting up in the
sense that Ill be on then all of sudden the Screen goes black however
PC is still running but all programs stop. knowing this by being on
teamspeak and they can no longer hear me or I them. That is not my
problem This is my problem I was able to shut computer down unplug
monitor cause i thought it was my monitor and Reboot and everything
would come back up it then might be fine for a Few Days or maybe a
few minutes only time would Tell. I Switched monitors with wifes Same
Problem Everything goes black and PC Still running HD PC fan etc. So
then I try Vid cards Then Same thing happens with other vid card. Now
its even harder To get it to Boot up The monitor still Keeps Saying
system test check Signal Cable Flashing on the screen then it Shuts
itself to Sleep mode like there is no signal to the Monitor. But I
know there is a Signal you can hear it click and if the monitor goes
to sleep if i shut down pc let it sit then plug monitor cable back in
it will bring it out of sleep. Ive Even been trying to go from
Secondary Vid card to onboard however it is disabled in Windows and
automagically switched in bios Ive had it to the boot screen a
couple times now it would either get to windows boot screen and then
the monitor would shut off and then flash no signal also either it
would get to the first start up Diagnostics screen where it would Say
Nvida GEFOrce and then just hang there.. What im really thinking now
is that I might have had a Virus but it was fixable by rebooting or
Clearing CMOS with Jumper also have Removed battery for 3 hours but
now I cant even get to the First Boot Screen to CMOS Config Because
the monitor wont Fire up. I am Positive it is not the Monitor or
Vidcard and the MOtherboard is brandnew 2months old HDD is brandnew 2
months old SATA hdd.. I would really like to know how I might be able
to Reformat this HDD Really im just at a Loss Or how do I force the
Motherboard to go back to ONboard VIdeo???????????? I have the new
MB with the SATA Cable with ATA HDD using the the SATA RIBBON I have
my other MB but it doesnt have the SATA Only IDE Do they make a SATA
HDD to IDE cable??And where could I find it? I really apologize For
the Confusing Description of my Problem I have just tried Every
Troubleshooting thing I know.. <Like I said I was able to get the
pc to run for a Few Days Before now its been 2 days and I cant get
anything now..WHAT DO I DO?

Sh!t bricks - I've just read the whole post.

"WHAT DO I DO?"

Cut your throat, I think.

Do you not have the slightest bit of nous floating around in those two
brain cells of yours to realise you could phrase your question with a
little organisation?

Sheesh - you stand no chance. Give it up while you can.

If English is not your mother language, forgive me. If it is,
however....


Odie

 

[JAD]

Get off the english/grammar soap box..................

 

[Odie Ferrous]

Get off the english/grammar soap box..................

The soap box disintegrated years ago.

The point I'm trying to make is that if someone has a problem, and would
like it sorted, then great.

However, it helps no end by putting the question / problem into
something that is easily legible.

The post in question was not, by any means.

I know I'm perfect, and can't expect everyone else to be, but at least
they could make an effort...


Odie
(No, I don't do "smilies." Just pretend there was one after "I know I'm
perfect...")

 

[ropeyarn]

Get off the english/grammar soap box..................

I wasn't on it. And if you think that a request for a question
restatement was not needed: I'd be interested in the following:
(1) What you think the problem was
(2) What has already taken place as a fix.

I read the *whole* thing...and had very little idea what was going on.

My best guess (before he cleared the CMOS) was a loss of video output at
some point in the boot process followed by an eventual failure to boot.

There are additional vido and HDD issues in place, but I'm not sure what
they are.

If you've got it all figured out (just the question..not the answer) I'd
like to know what's going on there.

One of the things I often have to do with my own clients is guide them
to simply ask the right question. A quality question here would
certainly improve the quality of responses.

There was no soapbox...just a request for clarity.

 

[Michael Hawes]

Sh!t bricks - I've just read the whole post.

"WHAT DO I DO?"

Cut your throat, I think.

Do you not have the slightest bit of nous floating around in those two
brain cells of yours to realise you could phrase your question with a
little organisation?

Sheesh - you stand no chance. Give it up while you can.

If English is not your mother language, forgive me. If it is,
however....


Odie

Too much data. Disconnect ALL ddrive data cables from motherboard.
Remove ALL plugin cards, including video. With only PSU, motherboard, CPU
and RAM, connect monitor to onboard graphics. If no POST, reset BIOS again.
If still nothing, remove RAM. Should give series of beeps. If not, is faulty
motherboard, CPU or PSU. Try and borrow a PSU for testing.
Mike.

 

[JAD]

Ok here goes, My Computer just recently started acting up in the
sense that Ill be on then all of sudden the Screen goes black however
PC is still running but all programs stop. knowing this by being on
teamspeak and they can no longer hear me or I them.

He is a gamer and his machine is acting up, seems to be video, but His
connection drops and software locks up.

That is not my

problem

This is my problem I was able to shut computer down unplug

monitor cause i thought it was my monitor and Reboot and everything
would come back up it then might be fine for a Few Days or maybe a
few minutes only time would Tell. I Switched monitors with wifes Same
Problem Everything goes black and PC Still running HD PC fan etc. So
then I try Vid cards Then Same thing happens with other vid card. Now
its even harder To get it to Boot up The monitor still Keeps Saying
system test check Signal Cable Flashing on the screen then it Shuts
itself to Sleep mode like there is no signal to the Monitor. But I
know there is a Signal you can hear it click and if the monitor goes
to sleep if i shut down pc let it sit then plug monitor cable back in
it will bring it out of sleep. Ive Even been trying to go from
Secondary Vid card to onboard however it is disabled in Windows and
automagically switched in bios

You should rid all the vid cards then try on board


Ive had it to the boot screen a

couple times now it would either get to windows boot screen and then
the monitor would shut off and then flash no signal also either it
would get to the first start up Diagnostics screen where it would Say
Nvida GEFOrce and then just hang there.. What im really thinking now
is that I might have had a Virus

Many problems here, however its not the monitor


but it was fixable by rebooting or

Clearing CMOS with Jumper also have Removed battery for 3 hours but
now I cant even get to the First Boot Screen to CMOS Config Because
the monitor wont Fire up. I am Positive it is not the Monitor or
Vidcard and the MOtherboard is brandnew 2months old

Makes little difference how old eletronics is, the things can be somehow
defective.

HDD is brandnew 2

months old SATA hdd.. I would really like to know how I might be able
to Reformat this HDD Really im just at a Loss Or how do I force the
Motherboard to go back to ONboard VIdeo???????????? I have the new
MB with the SATA Cable with ATA HDD using the the SATA RIBBON I have
my other MB but it doesnt have the SATA Only IDE Do they make a SATA
HDD to IDE cable??And where could I find it?

I really apologize For

the Confusing Description of my Problem I have just tried Every
Troubleshooting thing I know.. <Like I said I was able to get the
pc to run for a Few Days Before now its been 2 days and I cant get
anything now..WHAT DO I DO?

Your apology, I guess irritated some....


Over heat?
Yet Another Power supply problem?..try removing ALL but the 'needed to boot'
hardware.
Gotta spare PSU? / PSU analyzer?

 

[JAD]

A 2nd post inferring he must be a dolt, because you don't get it....is soap
boxing.
I'm sure he will thank you for the help though.

 

[David Maynard]

DiAmOnD wrote:

It's difficult to follow what you're saying but the 'English' bit has been
beat to death so I'll do the best I can with what's here.

Ok here goes, My Computer just recently started acting up in the
sense that Ill be on then all of sudden the Screen goes black however
PC is still running but all programs stop.

First thing is, if there's no display and no programs operating then the PC
is not 'still running'. I presume you mean it's still powered on, as in it
didn't turn itself off.

Generically speaking that's commonly referred to as 'locked up' or
'crashed'. I.E. It was running and then suddenly everything stops with
power still on.

knowing this by being on
teamspeak and they can no longer hear me or I them. That is not my
problem This is my problem I was able to shut computer down unplug
monitor

And how did you shutdown the computer?

cause i thought it was my monitor

Unlikely since the programs stop running. If it were the monitor the screen
might go black but things would continue operating. You just wouldn't 'see'
it on the (dead) screen.

and Reboot and everything
would come back up it then might be fine for a Few Days or maybe a
few minutes only time would Tell. I Switched monitors with wifes Same
Problem Everything goes black and PC Still running HD PC fan etc.

Fans running just means there's power to it. That's 'running', in a sense,
but it's misleading as it's not executing any programs and executing
programs is generally what is meant by 'running'.

So
then I try Vid cards

How did you try them? Did you uninstall the previous card's driver in
windows and install the new card's drivers?

Then Same thing happens with other vid card.

What you describe is not 'the same thing'.

Now
its even harder

See? If it's just 'harder' then it isn't 'the same thing'. Being 'harder'
is 'different'.

To get it to Boot up

You apparently mean 'trying' to get it to boot up.

The monitor still Keeps Saying
system test check Signal Cable Flashing on the screen then it Shuts
itself to Sleep mode like there is no signal to the Monitor.

Because there isn't a signal.

But I
know there is a Signal you can hear it click

Hear *what* 'click'?

and if the monitor goes
to sleep if i shut down pc let it sit then plug monitor cable back in
it will bring it out of sleep.

Illogical assessment.

The monitor is just coming out of sleep because it senses a 'change' and so
wakes up to look for a signal; which it apparently doesn't find.

Ive Even been trying to go from
Secondary Vid card

When, why, and how did a 'secondary' video card get into this?

to onboard

I am going to guess that you are trying to use the on-board video instead
of the add-on AGP video card you had apparently installed as the Primary video.

however it is disabled in Windows

And how did you determine it was 'disabled'? Were the drivers for it ever
installed? Does it show up in Device Manager?

and
automagically switched in bios

Assuming my guess is right then of course it will if you leave the add-on
AGP card plugged in as the on-board video is AGP too and you can only have
one AGP device. Your BIOS apparently automatically switches to the add-on
card when you plug it in, so you don't have to change settings, with the
common sense assumption that you wouldn't have plugged it in if you didn't
want to use it instead of the on-board video.

Ive had it to the boot screen a
couple times now it would either get to windows boot screen and then
the monitor would shut off and then flash no signal

Probably because you didn't install drivers for the video card you swapped
in to 'test' things with so it goes belly up when windows tries to talk to
a video card that is the wrong one for the drivers that *are* installed.

also either it
would get to the first start up Diagnostics screen where it would Say
Nvida GEFOrce and then just hang there.. What im really thinking now
is that I might have had a Virus

Viruses don't 'run' till the system is 'running' and since you can't get a
good boot it's unlikely any of this is being caused by a virus.

but it was fixable by rebooting or
Clearing CMOS with Jumper

This is the first time you've mentioned anything about clearing CMOS so I
have no idea when you did it, what hardware you were using, or what
happened afterward.

also have Removed battery for 3 hours but
now I cant even get to the First Boot Screen to CMOS Config Because
the monitor wont Fire up.

Don't know for sure but a reasonable guess is that clearing the CMOS put
the video settings back to the on-board video so you've now got the monitor
plugged into the wrong VGA connector.

I am Positive it is not the Monitor

The easiest way to check the monitor is to plug it into a working system,
e.g. your wife's.

or
Vidcard and the MOtherboard is brandnew 2months old HDD is brandnew 2
months old SATA hdd..

Yeah, so, everything is 'new'. Something's still broke, be it hardware,
software, or some setting.

I would really like to know how I might be able
to Reformat this HDD

Not only will reformatting a hard drive not fix a 'no display' at startup
problem but it's going to be rather problematic if you can't get the system
to boot anything nor see what's happening even if it does.

Point is, you're just randomly trying things and it's likely to make things
worse, like changing video cards without installing the drivers for it.

Really im just at a Loss Or how do I force the
Motherboard to go back to ONboard VIdeo????????????

Take out the AGP video card and clear CMOS. That should put it to defaults,
which should be on-board video, IF you remove the add-on card.

I have the new
MB with the SATA Cable with ATA HDD using the the SATA RIBBON I have
my other MB but it doesnt have the SATA Only IDE Do they make a SATA
HDD to IDE cable?

Yes, they do but the existing XP installation is not going to just
automagically boot on another motherboard because the drivers are for the
current motherboard and will be all wrong for other one.

You'd have to do a repair re-install of XP but, judging from the work so
far on the current motherboard you've done, I'm concerned you'll just make
matters worse tying to change to different motherboard.

?And where could I find it? I really apologize For
the Confusing Description of my Problem I have just tried Every
Troubleshooting thing I know.. <Like I said I was able to get the
pc to run for a Few Days Before now its been 2 days and I cant get
anything now..WHAT DO I DO?

Your description is so jumbled that it's impossible to tell exactly what
was done, and when, and I suspect you added a video card without installing
the drivers so things just got worse without adding any new useful information.

I'd remove all plug in cards, including the video, and clear CMOS (make
sure the PSU is unplugged when you clear CMOS). Then plug the monitor into
the on-board VGA connector and see if it'll boot to the BIOS setup screen.
If so, from there I'd look for the video setting, specifically anything
related to on-board video vs AGP slot and set it back to using the AGP
slot. Then put only the original AGP video card back, move the monitor
cable over to the AGP card's VGA connector, and see if you can get it to
boot again with things the way your existing XP installation expects to see
them.

From there you can begin again trying to diagnose what is causing the
system to lock up.

Lock ups could be anything from faulty software or hardware or a virus so
the first thing to ask is: was there anything 'new' done just before the
problem started? Like installing a new program? Installing new hardware? If
so then remove them.

Do you have temperature monitoring software installed so you can see CPU
and system temperatures? If it gets too hot that can cause a lock up.

And, lastly, when asking for help it's immensely useful, to the point of
being mandatory, to give *some* clue as to what the heck you've got beyond
simply 'a computer'. Did you buy a pre-made one? By who and what model? Did
you build it yourself? What is the motherboard? What *processor* is it?
What is the video card you originally had in it? What power supply? Who
made it and how many watts? How many hard drives, CD-ROMS, DVD players, and
whatever else you've got in the thing.

 

[dawg]

Guess he got scared off.

DiAmOnD wrote:

It's difficult to follow what you're saying but the 'English' bit has been
beat to death so I'll do the best I can with what's here.


First thing is, if there's no display and no programs operating then the PC
is not 'still running'. I presume you mean it's still powered on, as in it
didn't turn itself off.

Generically speaking that's commonly referred to as 'locked up' or
'crashed'. I.E. It was running and then suddenly everything stops with
power still on.



And how did you shutdown the computer?



Unlikely since the programs stop running. If it were the monitor the screen
might go black but things would continue operating. You just wouldn't 'see'
it on the (dead) screen.


Fans running just means there's power to it. That's 'running', in a sense,
but it's misleading as it's not executing any programs and executing
programs is generally what is meant by 'running'.



How did you try them? Did you uninstall the previous card's driver in
windows and install the new card's drivers?


What you describe is not 'the same thing'.


See? If it's just 'harder' then it isn't 'the same thing'. Being 'harder'
is 'different'.


You apparently mean 'trying' to get it to boot up.


Because there isn't a signal.


Hear *what* 'click'?


Illogical assessment.

The monitor is just coming out of sleep because it senses a 'change' and so
wakes up to look for a signal; which it apparently doesn't find.


When, why, and how did a 'secondary' video card get into this?


I am going to guess that you are trying to use the on-board video instead
of the add-on AGP video card you had apparently installed as the Primary video.

And how did you determine it was 'disabled'? Were the drivers for it ever
installed? Does it show up in Device Manager?


Assuming my guess is right then of course it will if you leave the add-on
AGP card plugged in as the on-board video is AGP too and you can only have
one AGP device. Your BIOS apparently automatically switches to the add-on
card when you plug it in, so you don't have to change settings, with the
common sense assumption that you wouldn't have plugged it in if you didn't
want to use it instead of the on-board video.



Probably because you didn't install drivers for the video card you swapped
in to 'test' things with so it goes belly up when windows tries to talk to
a video card that is the wrong one for the drivers that *are* installed.


Viruses don't 'run' till the system is 'running' and since you can't get a
good boot it's unlikely any of this is being caused by a virus.


This is the first time you've mentioned anything about clearing CMOS so I
have no idea when you did it, what hardware you were using, or what
happened afterward.


Don't know for sure but a reasonable guess is that clearing the CMOS put
the video settings back to the on-board video so you've now got the monitor
plugged into the wrong VGA connector.


The easiest way to check the monitor is to plug it into a working system,
e.g. your wife's.


Yeah, so, everything is 'new'. Something's still broke, be it hardware,
software, or some setting.


Not only will reformatting a hard drive not fix a 'no display' at startup
problem but it's going to be rather problematic if you can't get the system
to boot anything nor see what's happening even if it does.

Point is, you're just randomly trying things and it's likely to make things
worse, like changing video cards without installing the drivers for it.


Take out the AGP video card and clear CMOS. That should put it to defaults,
which should be on-board video, IF you remove the add-on card.


Yes, they do but the existing XP installation is not going to just
automagically boot on another motherboard because the drivers are for the
current motherboard and will be all wrong for other one.

You'd have to do a repair re-install of XP but, judging from the work so
far on the current motherboard you've done, I'm concerned you'll just make
matters worse tying to change to different motherboard.



Your description is so jumbled that it's impossible to tell exactly what
was done, and when, and I suspect you added a video card without installing
the drivers so things just got worse without adding any new useful information.

I'd remove all plug in cards, including the video, and clear CMOS (make
sure the PSU is unplugged when you clear CMOS). Then plug the monitor into
the on-board VGA connector and see if it'll boot to the BIOS setup screen.
If so, from there I'd look for the video setting, specifically anything
related to on-board video vs AGP slot and set it back to using the AGP
slot. Then put only the original AGP video card back, move the monitor
cable over to the AGP card's VGA connector, and see if you can get it to
boot again with things the way your existing XP installation expects to see
them.

From there you can begin again trying to diagnose what is causing the
system to lock up.

Lock ups could be anything from faulty software or hardware or a virus so
the first thing to ask is: was there anything 'new' done just before the
problem started? Like installing a new program? Installing new hardware? If
so then remove them.

Do you have temperature monitoring software installed so you can see CPU
and system temperatures? If it gets too hot that can cause a lock up.

And, lastly, when asking for help it's immensely useful, to the point of
being mandatory, to give *some* clue as to what the heck you've got beyond
simply 'a computer'. Did you buy a pre-made one? By who and what model? Did
you build it yourself? What is the motherboard? What *processor* is it?
What is the video card you originally had in it? What power supply? Who
made it and how many watts? How many hard drives, CD-ROMS, DVD players, and
whatever else you've got in the thing.