Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Hardware HELP!!!

Collapse
This topic is closed.
X
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 3
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous 1 2 3 template Next
  • #1

    Hardware HELP!!!

    Okay, I've been panicing, and I need help from the more hardware minded members of the forum.

    I got a side job (yay me!). I picked up the PC from the guy's house, and everything was working. I get it back to my place, pop out the RAM to check the type, replace it, and then plug everything in......... then... CHAOS.

    The monitor light wouldn't turn blue, I wasn't getting a display AT ALL. I am getting mobo lights, power button lights, and the sounds of everything spinning, so I know the PC is starting up. I check the monitor on two other PCs. Worked fine, like I knew it would. Reseated the RAM, no go. Moved the RAM to another slot, no go.

    The computer is about 7-8 years old, and makes the dust bowl look clean. Did I just have very very bad timing?

    I ordered a new AGP (to date the PC further) card, but it'll take a few days to get here. I think I was able to nab a temp card from our supply room, so I can test that over lunch.

    So, what did I do????
    SC: “Yeah, Bob’s Company. I'm Bob. It's my company.” - GK
    SuperHotelWorker made my Avi!!
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Quoth technical.angel View Post
    So, what did I do????
    You said you tried the RAM in a different slot. Did you try a different stick of RAM altogether? If it won't even start up to the monitor, it sounds like the problem my friend recently had. Fried RAM. As to whether you did it, or it was just that RAM's time to go the next time it was touched, hard to say, unless you forgot to ground yourself after shuffling your socks on carpet for 30 seconds.
    Ba'al: I'm a god. Gods are all-knowing.

    http://unrelatedcaptions.com/45147

    Comment

    • #3
      I have another RAM stick on order... along with a new AGP card. It's an older stick of RAM, so I don't have any around here to try until the new one comes in.
      SC: “Yeah, Bob’s Company. I'm Bob. It's my company.” - GK
      SuperHotelWorker made my Avi!!

      Comment

      • #4
        its possible that you may have unseated the agp card when messing with the ram, or may have moved it just enough to find a dead spot on the contacts. had a similar problem with an old compaq my ex had me look at. i would unseat and reseat everything near the ram just incase
        This is a drama-free zone; violators will be slapped. -Irving Patrick Freleigh
        my blog:http://steeledragon.wordpress.com/

        Comment

        • #5
          I did pull out and blow off the dust on the card. No go.

          Jenni, who needs canned air.
          SC: “Yeah, Bob’s Company. I'm Bob. It's my company.” - GK
          SuperHotelWorker made my Avi!!

          Comment

          • #6
            I'm sure you did this already, but make sure to check all connections inside the computer to ensure that nothing is loose.

            What kind of error beeps is it giving you on start up? Did you try a different cable? Have you checked the connector on the video out to make sure it isn't damaged or broken?

            ^-.-^
            Faith is about what you do. It's about aspiring to be better and nobler and kinder than you are. It's about making sacrifices for the good of others. - Dresden

            Comment

            • #7
              Everything seems to be running fine on the pc, I'm not getting any bios beeps, it's just the screen doesn't want to come on.

              I'm getting a spare box for the weekend, so I can get the files moved over so I can do SOMETHING until the card or RAM come in. Plus, I found the RIGHT kind of AGP card, since the one I found before lunch was close but not it, which makes me worried about the one I ordered.
              SC: “Yeah, Bob’s Company. I'm Bob. It's my company.” - GK
              SuperHotelWorker made my Avi!!

              Comment

              • #8
                Does the motherboard have onboard video with a video out you can try to plug in to?

                Or are there any alternate video outputs you could try to use?

                Could you possibly try to remote view it from a working networked machine?

                I'm just throwing wild things out at this point.

                ^-.-^
                Faith is about what you do. It's about aspiring to be better and nobler and kinder than you are. It's about making sacrifices for the good of others. - Dresden

                Comment

                • #9
                  Offically worried about the one I ordered. This card has this kind of prongy thing.



                  Halp?
                  SC: “Yeah, Bob’s Company. I'm Bob. It's my company.” - GK
                  SuperHotelWorker made my Avi!!

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    If you're talking about the green extension at the end of the connector - Some AGP and PCI-Ex16 slots have latches that the 'prongy thing' (since I even don't know the official name!) locks into to prevent the card from getting loose in the slot. Shouldn't be a problem if the new card doesn't have one.

                    One other thing to try - take out all the RAM and start it. If you get BIOS beeps, then you know the RAM is at fault. If you don't, then there's another issue.

                    Oh, and one more thing - custom system or from a PC manufacturer (Dell, HP, etc.)? Some manufactured systems, especially Dell, are particular about their RAM, especially if they're that age. Put in ordinary RAM, even if it's of the same type that's been taken out, and the system will refuse to start. Check the RAM manufacturer's site to make sure that the RAM you have will work with the system.
                    Last edited by RichS; 07-10-2009, 07:51 PM. Reason: Added a few things...

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Well, it's offically NOT the video card. Swapped cards and still no go. Now I just have to wait on the new mem stick.
                      SC: “Yeah, Bob’s Company. I'm Bob. It's my company.” - GK
                      SuperHotelWorker made my Avi!!

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Quoth technical.angel View Post
                        I check the monitor on two other PCs. Worked fine, like I knew it would.
                        Check the pins on the monitor cable connections. I once had problems with those getting bent.
                        "I don't have to be petty. The Universe does that for me."

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Quoth Ironclad Alibi View Post
                          Check the pins on the monitor cable connections. I once had problems with those getting bent.
                          The monitor was tried on a different system already, iirc. And if there are no beeps it should be POSTing properly and the RAM should be okay...
                          Last edited by prb; 07-10-2009, 11:24 PM.
                          Otaku

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Quoth prb View Post
                            And if there are no beeps it should be POSTing properly and the RAM should be okay...
                            Err... No. I can vouch for this being 100% incorrect. As I noted, my friend just had a stick of bad RAM. One stick out of four. And his system wouldn't even beep with that one stick in.
                            Ba'al: I'm a god. Gods are all-knowing.

                            http://unrelatedcaptions.com/45147

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Quoth Broomjockey View Post
                              Err... No. I can vouch for this being 100% incorrect. As I noted, my friend just had a stick of bad RAM. One stick out of four. And his system wouldn't even beep with that one stick in.
                              Hmm... I was wondering as I posted that, wasn't quite sure, thanks for correcting me on it
                              Otaku

                              Comment

                              Previous 1 2 3 template Next
                              Working...