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General discussion

I am rebuilding a friends computer and have ran in to a problem!!!

Mar 9, 2004 3:56AM PST

I took a friends computer apart so that i could upgrade it for him and now the computer will not display on any monitors I have tried everything I could think of but nothing is working any advice?

Discussion is locked

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Re:I am rebuilding a friends computer and have ran in to a problem!!!
Mar 9, 2004 4:32AM PST

"I took a friends computer apart so that i could upgrade it for him and now the computer will not display on any monitors I have tried everything I could think of but nothing is working any advice?"

If I read this correctly, the computer is still apart. Today's machines don't work when apart.
.


Ok, maybe you did put it together, but didn't say. Any beeps?

Is this an Atlon? They tend to crack and burn.

Bob

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Re:Re:I am rebuilding a friends computer and have ran in to a problem!!!
Mar 9, 2004 5:38AM PST

This is a Intel P II (really old). I told him I wasn't Even Sure if it would do what he wanted but... he insisted so I upgraded as much as I could with his funding (did not upgrade videocard). Now when I plug it up the lights come on and you hear a beep but that is it. (will not display on any of my monitors)

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Please write gritty wordy posts.
Mar 9, 2004 6:15AM PST

"Now when I plug it up the lights come on and you hear a beep but that is it. (will not display on any of my monitors)" and another post tells of a new hard disk and DVD recorder.

An upside does IDE cable may stop the display, so I'd...

1. Unplug the IDE cables for the moment.
2. Firmly seat the Video card.

Try again.

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Re:I am rebuilding a friends computer and have ran in to a problem!!!
Mar 9, 2004 4:58AM PST

If the unspecified upgrade included a new videocard, that's the suspect. If it's the same, it might have to be reseated.

Better tell what the computer does (and possibly shows on the DOS-screen) when booting.

Kees

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Re:Re:I am rebuilding a friends computer and have ran in to a problem!!!
Mar 9, 2004 5:31AM PST

The computer is not showing anything on the screen at all not even the dos screen, Also it is not a new video card it is the old one and I have reseated it twice now. (the only thing I really upgraded was the hard drive and the Ram) (also I added a dvd burner)

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Re:Re:Re:I am rebuilding a friends computer and have ran in to a problem!!!
Mar 9, 2004 7:42AM PST

not likely, but a blank screen can be caused by a bad BIOS chip. is it seated properly?

are you sure the monitor is good?

only way i know to eliminate the video card as cause is to swap it out. --fj

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Beeps on bootup question
Mar 9, 2004 9:14AM PST

Is it the normal short beep or one long one? If one long one, you have an issue with the RAM you installed. Do you have the manual for the computer handy to know if you are using the correct RAM (simms normally are EDO...installed in pairs and must be in the correct slots or it doesn't work)?

If you don't have the manual, give us the model number of the computer (serial number too if a Compaq) so we can get you to the online manual if it's still available so you can check it out.

If it's one beep followed by three very short ones, it's a video card issue.

TONI

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Re:Beeps on bootup question
Mar 9, 2004 10:58AM PST

This is A Packard Bell Pack-Mate 7968. Also it is a normal beep and nothing else I also just noticed that the DVD Burner I Installed is not opening when you push the button on it.

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Re:Re:Beeps on bootup question
Mar 10, 2004 3:46AM PST

Disconnect both the power cable and the IDE controller cable from the DVD burner and see if it boots up. If so, then you have the connections wrong or the jumper on the harddrive AND/OR on the burner are set wrong. If on the same IDE controller, make sure the harddrive is set as Master or Master with Slave and the DVD burner is set as Slave. If separate controllers the harddrive needs to be set as Master or Single on the Primary and the DVD burner needs to be Master on the Secondary. If another cdrom is also installed THAT jumper needs to be set properly according to the IDE controller it's on.

TONI

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Re:Beeps on bootup question
Mar 9, 2004 11:23AM PST

Ok I re-tested it again to verify the beeps and it doesn't beep anymore? earlier it beeped once and that was it but now nothing it just cuts all the lights on.

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Re:Re:Beeps on bootup question
Mar 10, 2004 4:26AM PST

Ummm, have you thought about going backwards.

Meaning put all the orig parts back in their orig position, put all jumpers/switches back to their orig position.

Does it work?

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Re:I am rebuilding a friends computer and have ran in to a problem!!!
Mar 9, 2004 8:30AM PST

New harddrive? How installed?
Also, how did you set up the rom drives?
Curious about what ram you added?

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I had same problem when trying to put in new sound card...
Mar 10, 2004 7:21AM PST

after trial and error found out I had jarred my ram, I reseat my ram it cured it. Runs perfect now. Try to put old ram back in to rule out wrong type of ram or defective ram.

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Re:I am rebuilding a friends computer and have ran in to a problem!!!
Mar 11, 2004 12:47AM PST

Take the PC back down to nothing but the RAM and video card. Boot it. If these two components are good you will get to the POST. If this turns out ok start adding each component (Floppy, HDD, CD, DVD) one at a time (Booting after each addition).

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Re:I am rebuilding a friends computer and have ran in to a problem!!!
Mar 15, 2004 4:36AM PST

Refer to your mother bd. manual where you should find a refrence to BIOS RESETTING. Also see BIOS recovering from a over clock condition. The above operations should only be acomplished with powed off and the power supply unpluged. In case your manual dosen't mention the BIOS PROCEDURES but you do have a picttorial diagram of the PCB.

1. Look for a three(3) pin block with a two(2) pin jumper near the battery which supplies the BIOS AND REAL TIME CLOCK (RTC). This jumper connects the battery to the BIOS/RTC OR TO GROUND. Moving this jumper will allow the BIOS MEM TO Drain. When the computer is re started it will stop at bios setup allowing you to reset the BIOS.

NEVER APPLY POWER TO YOUR PC WHILE YOUR BIOS /RTC IS SHORTED TO GROUND AS DOING SO WILL DAMAGE MOTHER BD.(PCB)

2. Look in your diagram for Pin block labeled as safe boot mode. This pin block may be associated with system clock settings. set for safe boot mode. This setting will allow the system to boot-up. Allow system system to boot-up compleatly. Then shut down your computer. reset uour jumpers correctly. Restart your PC and enter BIOS SETUP. Set BIOS CORRECTLY.