Black Screen Debug Steps

[Leyawiin]

Hey guys - think I have this pretty much nailed down, but since I haven't had this happen in a number of years I wanted to run it by you to make sure I'm not forgetting anything. My sister's PC powers up, but has a black screen. I've:

1. Cleared the CMOS jumper/removed battery for 15 minutes (pressed power button several times).
2. Swapped out power supply
3. Tried another monitor
4. Swapped out the video card
5. Disconnected the two SSDs and optical drive
6. Pulled all memory sticks but one (and then tried the others).

Nothing has worked - cant' even get a BIOS splash screen. Am I forgetting anything else before concluding its the motherboard? Its a Phenom II X4 955 BE with an ASUS M4A79T Deluxe. (one of my old PCs). Thanks.

 

[Burpo]

If there's a motherboard speaker, try it with no ram & see if you get beeps. It definitely seems like it's the board tho.

https://www.google.com/search?q=ASU...sm=122&ie=UTF-8#q=ASUS+M4A79T+Deluxe+no+video

The only other thing I can think of if it was moved/transported, it's possible the CPU may have pulled out of the socket some. Try re-seating it.

 

[Leyawiin]

Thanks Burpo, I have a small speaker I can plug into the mobo (it doesn't have one). I'll try reseating the CPU as well.

 

[christian1990]

I had this problem with an old computer. Try to run the system with a single ram stick at a time.

 

[Leyawiin]

I had this problem with an old computer. Try to run the system with a single ram stick at a time.

Did that in various slots with four different ram sticks. No go.

 

[QuietDad]

Video on the Mobo? Could be you need to put the monitor on that, get into BIOS and change it to use the video card as the default.

 

[Leyawiin]

Video on the Mobo? Could be you need to put the monitor on that, get into BIOS and change it to use the video card as the default.

There's no onboard video with that model - strictly a higher end gaming motherboard. If I could get to the BIOS I'm sure I could figure out better what's the issue. Could just be its a 6 1/2 year old motherboard that finally crapped out. I did OC with it the five years I had it.

Newegg's got a promo code for this one that brings the price down to $50 (not counting the $10 rebate). I may just treat my sister to that, load all the peripheral stuff on it (since I'm pretty sure everything else is OK) and call it a day.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128565