Computer boots, No video after bios

[kd5]

Working on an older computer with an Intel D850GB Socket 423 motherboard, 1.8ghz P4, 4x256mb PC800 RDRAM, AGP NVidia video card, sound card, modem, NIC, DVDROM, CDRW, 80gb WD hard drive. I've worked on this computer before, added memory, reinstalled XP, basic maintenance, everything was fine besides it being an older computer.

This time it came to me, video had winked out, they couldn't figure out why. First, I tested the PSU, found it was bad, replaced it. No video beyond the bios (turn the computer on, I could see to get into the bios, but as soon as I exited, no video). Tried a different video card, no change. Tried reseating the memory, no change. Tried different memory, no change. Tried reseating the CPU, no change. Tried a different CPU, no change. Tried booting with just the bare essentials, no change. Tried transplanting everything into a different case, no change. Finally replaced the motherboard, no change. Sent that motherboard back for a replacement, got the replacement motherboard in, no change. Also tried a new motherboard battery, no change. As soon as I would turn the computer on, I could get into the bios to set the date/time, make any other necessary changes, exit saving changes, no video. Tried setting bios defaults, exited saving changes, no video.

I'm ready to call it quits. I absolutely HATE admitting defeat, but I don't think there's a damned thing more I can do, unless anybody has any ideas. These people were perfectly willing (and wanted) to spring for the cost of getting this computer back up and running vs. buying a new computer. It's been over a month now, what with getting the first replacement motherboard, sending it back, getting another replacement, I told them it would take awhile but this is getting ridiculous.

Any ideas before I put everything back the way it was when it came to me and calling them to tell them it's hopeless?


Thanks, -kd5-

 

[VirtualLarry]

I'm utterly and completely amazed that you were even able to get a replacement for a socket 423 RDRAM mobo.

I think it's time that you moved them to something newer. That rig is ANCIENT!

If you want something cheap, check out the AMD CPU+mobo combos at Microcenter.

 

[kd5]

After the first motherboard replacement failed, I recommended they abandon this altogether.

Recommending they buy a new computer is the easy way, they wanted me to fix this one, which is why I pursued getting a second replacement board.

Any ideas in that regard?


Thanks, -kd5-

 

[mnewsham]

No idea what is wrong, it is cheaper and easier to just buy a cheap new desktop and try and get a MB that supports the old HDD to save the data.

 

[Paperdoc]

I don't particularly want to encourage you to put more effort into this, but here's my suggestion for consideration by yourself or others. You describe a situation with video OK during POST and from the BIOS Setup screens, but not outside that. That indicates a problem with the way your OS is trying to output video info. That is most likely to be a problem either with the video card driver loaded into Windows, or with the video card settings configured for it.

To start fresh on the driver side, the first step is to make sure you have the proper driver on a disk somewhere - either on your hard drive in a known location, or on a floppy. Next, get rid of the existing driver. To do that you must start Windows in Safe Mode, then go into Control Panel ... System ... Hardware tab ... Device Manager button. Choose your video output card and RIGHT-click on it, then Uninstall it. Back out and reboot, and again force it into Safe Mode. It will detect the "new hardware" - that is the "new" video card that you uninstalled but now it's there - and install it and a driver for it. If you can, tell it exactly where the driver is. If you don't get that opportunity, wait until Windows is running and go back into Device Manager to that video card, right-click on it and choose to Update the Driver, then give it the location of the new driver version you want installed. When done, back out and reboot normally. It probably will start up with a basic VGA-like display of 640 x 480 resolution. Right-click on the background and choose Properties, then the Settings tab to get to where you can set the configuration you need.

 

[Lanyap]

At this point it sounds like XP is just not booting up. Maybe XP is corrupt or HD is bad.

Try booting up with a Linux live type distro just to see if you can get it up and running.

Try booting XP in safe mode to see if it's even trying to load.

Try running a HD diagnostic like Hitachi DFT to see if the HD is ok.

 

[mlc]

I think Lanyap is right.. You've pretty much replaced all of the components, with the exception of the hard drive....

so i would think its either a bad cable/connection or a damaged drive... Try changing the boot order in bios, and loading up the windows install disk to see if that gets you past the blank screen issue.. (disconnect the HDD altogether)

 

[mfenn]

I agree that you haven't checked the obvious thing, the OS (unless I missed it in your OP!). Try booting a Linux Live CD and see if you get video there. If so, your OS install is just hosed.

 

[kd5]

May have been obvious to you but this is the first time in almost 7 years of being in business professionally and probably another 5 years prior to that, that I'd ever encountered this particular problem, and believe me, it was a learning experience. No video at all? Usually I'd get some indication on the display that the OS was corrupted if that was the only issue, but to not get video at all (beyond the bios), I was sure it was hardware.

At any rate, tested the hard drive & memory using the UBCD, they both tested fine. Booted to the XP CD, ran chkdsk /r, then fixboot, computer booted to XP, and I was able to run some diagnostics and update a few things.

I was convinced the defective PSU had taken the motherboard with it on its way out, and it may very well have. I've already screwed with this computer for way longer than I ever wanted to, it's fixed now and that's all that I (and the customer) care(s) about.

Thanks everybody for your invaluable assistance with this unique problem. -kd5-