problems with an old comp

[nick1985]

so i have this old computer lying around. pII 233, 128 ram...you get the idea. it worked before i went to college, and now when i get home i tried booting it up. it beeps and i can tell it works properly, just i get no picture. the monitor works fine on my 2 other computers, but nothing on this comp. i swapped out vid cards, nothing. changed the vid card to a different PCI slot, nothing. i tried the onboard video, nothing. what gives?

 

[nick1985]

^

 

[nick1985]

1 last try...

 

[DAPUNISHER]

So it gives a single "everything is kosher" beep and appears to go through post and boot-up but without video? Do you have speakers connected so you can here if it's making it to desktop that way?

 

[farmercal]

Are you SURE that both the video cards actually work?

 

[imported_raybay]

Check again. Video card or memory problem. Does the CPU fan turn on? Do all the other LED's light up? Did you try either of the cards in another computer?

 

[nick1985]

it lights up, turns on, fans spin up, i hear beeps...everything is kosher, except for the video.

the vid card in it worked before i left for college and no one has used it since.

the 2nd vid card worked a while ago when i tested it

and plus ive tried onboard video.

i doubt all 3 crapped out on me at the same time, and i know my monitor works...what the heck is the deal?

 

[DAPUNISHER]

If there's more than one beep it is most likely giving you a audio error beep code. a series of beeps, usually with some long, some short, will be given and you can google them to see what they mean.

 

[Paperlantern]

Try taking everything out thats not needed. disconnect hdd, optical drives, all but one stick of ram (make sure its in DIMM 1 if its dimms, if its old enuf to use SIMMS, leave in one pair in the first bank), any other cards beside the video and try firing it up that way. If it does come up, try reconnecting everything one at a time to eliminate what may be causing the problem. Another thing that can be tried is clearing cmos, removing a battery, or shorting a jumper can do this, hsould put everything back to where it needs to be, and try using on board video only after clearing cmos. Also, in some minor cases (no pun intended) the power supply can go bad and continue to power drives and fans but since the voltage to the board is hosed up, it wont actualy boot, if all else fails try another PSU.

 

[nick1985]

tried new ram, new PSU. nothing.


i can troubleshoot hardware problems with the best of 'em, but this one really has me stumped...

 

[SickBeast]

Try an AGP videocard maybe. Strange problem. That computer is so old though, it's probably just met it's doom. :brokenheart:

 

[Paperlantern]

reseat/replace CPU? they are pretty common could borrow one or pick one up cheap...

or your board might have permanently gotten disgruntled and jsut gone on strike...

 

[nick1985]

oh sorry, i didnt update

i pulled out the cpu and put it back in, WALLAH! it worked


thanks guys.

 

[Paperlantern]

=) i knew it! glad its working!