HELP: Computer won't start, no response, no video output

[leosalchemist]

I pulled the harddrive and the floppy out of a old compaq to salvage another old dell. And I moved the compaq around a couple times. Now the compaq doesn't work any more. It refuses to start. After I switch on the power, the CDROM's lights and keyboard lights are on like normal. Then I can hear the hard drive spining. But the monitor doesn't show anything, pressing the keyboard doens't give any response. The computer halts at this stage, even no CMOS setup option (pressing delete, no response). Is the motherboard dead? Or could it be something else. Thanks!

 

[BenRosey]

Are you getting any beeps (like three) when it starts? If so, it may be the video card.

1) Take out the video card and reseat it if it is AGP, if it is PCI make sure it is in the first PCI slot.

2) Take out the memory and reseat it.

3) Clear the CMOS jumper.

4) Reseat everything, power connections, IDE, etc..

 

[leosalchemist]

It doean't give any beep. I'll do the other check. What if still no response after doing all the reseating and clearing? Dead motherboard?
Thanks!

 

[Fireman]

I would try a different stick of RAM if you have it. Even if it worked before.

 

[Swampster]

Make sure your AGP video card clicks TWICE when you push it in. If it doesn't click the second time, it is not fully seated and will not work properly . . . if at all.

 

[leosalchemist]

Thanks to you guys helping me out. It turns out to be a ISA card driving an external device had bad contact. Thank goodness it's not a fatal problem with the motherboard.