monitor shuts off.

The Franchise · Joined: Oct 27, 2004 Posts: 440 Location: Arkansas

Hi,
Just in from work and late but wife has a problem with her pc.A dell 2300 running XP. Pc starts up but shuts down the monitor.Does the same thing with another monitor. When hooked to another pc the monitor is ok.Any ideas? Know it's the pc and will look after some sleep.A must have since she likes to play games.
Jimmy

goretsky

Hello,

At what point does the monitor shut down in the boot process?

Does the problem occur if the computer is started in Safe Mode?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

The Franchise · Joined: Oct 27, 2004 Posts: 440 Location: Arkansas

goretsky,
Monitor shuts down shortly after the logo appears.Haven't tried safe mode yet.
Jimmy
add on:
On 1st start up this morning monitor stayed on long enough for me to select safe mode but it went to a blank screen.Now it's back to monitor shutting off.

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 782

If you press a key or wiggle the mouse, does it come back on?
If so, probably power / screensaver settings.

Are there any error beeps (P.O.S.T. codes) on startup?
If so, could be a bad video card.

The Franchise · Joined: Oct 27, 2004 Posts: 440 Location: Arkansas

Baby_Tux,

Didn't think of wiggling the mouse or pressing a key.Will try that tomorrow.
The only sound made is the normal sound of a monitor shutting down.
Did put in a new power supply but it made no difference.As of now when pc is turned on the row of green lights will come on ,the power light will go from amber to green,and then back to amber.Wife now wants a new pc to play her games on!
Jimmy
update:Tried the key and the mouse but nothing.Wife says she was having problems with the mouse but it works fine with the standby pc.

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 782

My first thought is that it sounded like a video card problem but more likely a Motherboard / power good line,(since you mentioned the mouse failing, too) but need to verify a few things first.

Is it giving ANY POST beeps at all, verifying that it is getting past POST? (Power On Self Test) - I'll need to know if none & if it makes any, what the sequence is. (Like two long beep & a short one) & what it normally made.

When you added the new power supply, did you get one as big or bigger? It could be that there isn't enough "juice" out of that one. You also may have missed a power plug. Did it work any at all afterward?

Also, check the pins on the video connector to make sure none got bent. Had this happen at work once, caused all KINDS of headaches until I found it. If there IS any, you can CAREFULLY bend them back - needle nose pliers or a knife should do it.

Check all your boards & connections as well & look for any oddities such as possible shorts & such while in there...

If this all checks, then I'd try another video card. If you could "borrow" one to try, that would save you the cost if it isn't that. Just in cast the MOBO is the problem. (someone you know have one lying around?)

If this all fails, may very well be time for a new one... Sad

goretsky

Hello,

I am wondering if the display settings for the monitor (screen resolution, refresh rate or perhaps something else) were somehow changed to settings the monitor cannot handle.

Have you tried starting the computer with a different monitor installed, changing the display resolution to a "safe" setting such as 800x600@60Hz and then powering down the different monitor, removing it and plugging in the original one to see if a signal is still displayed?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

The Franchise · Joined: Oct 27, 2004 Posts: 440 Location: Arkansas

Baby_Tux, goretsky,
As far as I can tell there are no beeps.The ps was tried to correct the problem.Everything seems to work but no monitor.The same thing happens with any monitor I try.
Lots of overtime is preventing me from spending much time troubleshooting the pc.

Jimmy

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 782

No beeps COULD be any of the following: No beep - Power supply, system board problem, disconnected cpu, or disconnected speaker. (or in some cases NO speaker - this is the little one on the MOBO)

Since you said you replaced the PS I'd think the chances that BOTH were bad is slim but your power requirements may be greater than it can handle if you added any power hungry components. What wattage IS the PS anyway?

The monitor, you tried another & still not working. Mouse acting up but NOT on another computer. - got me wondering about the MOBO...

How far is the computer getting on BOOT now? You said you WERE able to at one time to get to the selection menu for SAFE MODE so at least at THAT time it had to have passed POST. (my hunch there is no speaker - a rip by the manufactures to the consumers as this is a vital troubleshooting tool at times.)

I would start with checking to see if there is a speaker, then, all connections, power plugs, boards & such as mentioned before.

I know what you mean about overtime, so post back when you can & we'll go from there.

The Franchise · Joined: Oct 27, 2004 Posts: 440 Location: Arkansas

Baby-Tux,
PS is 400w.Still no beeps. Before turning on the pc the monitor light is amber,turn on pc power sw and the light goes to green for a few seconds and then back to amber.Nothing on screen. Priced new pcs this morning and they are reasonable but all have Vista.
Jimmy

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 782

I STILL would start with checking to see if there is a speaker, then, all connections, power plugs, boards & such as mentioned before. This won't cost you anything but time. & it is very easy to miss a plug on the MOBO if they are under other stuff.

400W for a PS is a little low if you have a good amount of current draw. Especially if you've added anything from the original layout.

But I guess it is up to you whether it is "cheaper" ( less expensive?) / easier to get a new one or fix that one. - only YOU can decide that! - you can always gut it for parts or set it back for a later project. (personally, I'd exhaust my repair option first but that is just me)

BTW: I hate using the work "cheap" as, for me anyway, it seems to equate with JUNK.

As for VISTA - I've been told that M$ has "fixed" a lot of the original problems. Also, you can always fold back to your XP. I DO believe you can LEGALLY use it on your new computer since the old one is defunct but this would have to be checked out, of course. (this is assuming you can get (or have) install disks (not restore) & you use YOUR KEY)

If you go this route, I'd image the new machine right away after first boot to get a copy of the VISTA (you paid for it) & in that way IF you ever decide to use it you can simply put it back.

The Franchise · Joined: Oct 27, 2004 Posts: 440 Location: Arkansas

Baby--Tux,
For the moment my wife is satisfied with a machine I put together with parts from an old Emachine so I'll have plenty of time to see if I can find the problem.
Don't know if I'd recognize a speaker if I saw it.
PS is actually 430w.Old PS in a Dell 2300 is less than 300W so plenty of power. Thanks for the help.Will post when I find the problem.

Jimmy

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 782

It looks like any normal 2" speaker. Much like in the transistor radios & such.
OK on having a spare - will be easier to do at leisure for sure...

<<< back side

<<< frontside

Wonsr · Joined: Nov 26, 2004 Posts: 42

I have seen speakers in some cases that are about 1/2 inch tall & 1/2 inch in diameter,black in color. They are good for checking beeps only. The computer I am using has the small speaker. Smile

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 782

Yeah, if I follow your description correctly, it would be a PIEZO (pronounced PIE - EE' - ZO) speaker & can get quite small. I'll have to admit, I'm not sure what is in the latest computers & I DO know that in some they are omitted (for whatever stupid reason). But I'd think that what SHOULD be in this one is as previously pictured. (most common)

Here is a PIEZO:

<<< best picture I could find that wasn't huge

BTW: this is what is used in digital watches for the alarm. ( or at least USED to be)
Backup alarms on heavy equipment is another thing that comes to mind.

The Franchise · Joined: Oct 27, 2004 Posts: 440 Location: Arkansas

Baby-Tux,
Found the speaker. A HYCOM HY-05.
Jimmy

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 782

OK - good - now do you remember EVER hearing a POST beep on that thing? If so, do you recall what the sequence was?
We are getting closer - have you had a chance to check the other stuff?
I have another thing to check when you do... & so I don't forget I'll put it here. MEMORY ... may think of more as we go. (I'll tell you how when ready)

The Franchise · Joined: Oct 27, 2004 Posts: 440 Location: Arkansas

Baby-Tux.
Checked all connections and cards.Don't remember hearing any beeps before but I wasn't looking for any then.Now I know there are no beeps.Next step is simple pci video card to try.Have a pci express card in 1 pc but I understand it won't work.Also searching for a replacement mobo just in case.I may never use the pc again.Just want to know the problem.

Jimmy

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 782

I should have mentioned this before but I figured you are already aware of it so bare with me.. When you mess with the following, ground yourself by touching the mettle of the case before entering.

You may want to check the memory in the following fashion. Say you have two sticks, pull one & see if it boots right. If not switch, if not again, try another slot. Do this until all combinations are covered.

It would be nice if we new for sure if there was a beep but I know of others that never noticed & it blared at them for years. But if the above doesn't get it & your video swap fails, I'd probably have to say goodby to the MOBO. (or the whole computer would be parted)

OK - guys & gals, anyone else have any (other) ideas?

BTW: just for an FYI - there is a special diag card that plugs into the MOBO as a daughter board that would tell exactly what is wrong. But I haven't a clue as to who would have one you could "borrow". I say "borrow" as they are expensive to purchase.

zzron357 · Joined: Oct 14, 2004 Posts: 19

Amen to memory check. May need ram in slot 1 for video.
Also, check voltage on bios battery. Replace if under 3.0 volts.
New will be 3.20. I have had systems w/o video, and only issue was battery.
Check setup (bios) settings after replacement, may need to set defaults
and clock.
"Mr. Battery" zzron