Failure to Boot - MoBo or Graphics Card?

Originally Posted by madmikejt12

his sugests a graphics card problem

you replaced the graphics card or just added a second one? if you added a second one, try removing the original... did you get the same "no input signal"?

Thanks
Mike

Hello Mike,

I removed the original card and put an old card in the 1st PCI slot. This had exactly the same effect - a moving screensaver type message on the monitor.

Roger

Originally Posted by madmikejt12

What did it say?

Was it a blue screen?
if it was, please type the error code... this may only tell us its a graphics card problem or it may tell us more

also, did you install the drivers (for your new card) when you had your old card in?

Mike

Mike,

The image on the monitor is showing a error message from the manufacturer (Phillips) but has no code attached. It displays even when the monitor is powered up but is physically disconnected from the computer.
Driver installation is not possible, I can't get that far but I assume that any working video card will display the boot sequence without drivers. Does this seems to point towards a problem with the motherboard?

Roger.

Originally Posted by madmikejt12

If you plug your old card in, connect the monitor and turn only the monitor on, do you get the same message?

do you get any beeps?

Also, could you remove your power cable and CMOS battery? (it should show you how in the manual, motherboard manual if its custom built)

Whilst it's out, plug in the monitor to the onboard video, then boot the machine after 30 mins (without the battery) The motherboard factory defaults should be in effect.

What happens now?

The Phillips monitor reports "Attention - No Video Input", this is its own internal error message & occurs with either card - or even when disconnected from the video card.
There is no other display onscreen at any point.
There are no POST beeps at all.
There are some of the internal sounds of a computer booting but they seemed "wrong" & didn't go on for long enough - a little HDD activity.
After 10sec. of running the video card fan becomes intermittent, approx 3 seconds running, 3 seconds off.
Power supply & case fan are running.
Power light ON.
FDD ON with no disc in the slot.
RAM activity light ON.

I'd rather put off clearing the motherboard defaults for the time being, first of all I'm going to strip all the non-essential items off the board & see what happens & if it improves I'll build it back up one by one untill it fails.

Thanks, Roger

Originally Posted by madmikejt12

ok, remove all peripheral devices from the computer. Unplug from the mains and hold the power button for a full minute. Then try to boot again.

also, try disconnecting the RAM, do you get any beeps then?

Well I've tried both your last suggestions - holding down the power button, & then removing the battery for 35min (with the power lead out) and there is no change at all, no POST beeps, no display, nothing other than the fans spinning & a little activity from the HDD.
I have also stripped the board down to just the CPU and the case fan, no RAM & no other components & still no reaction.
I have checked the voltages on the PSU plugs & they are all o.k.
It looks to me as if it is a dead Mobo. I can't see any damaged components, burnt chips, leaking capacitors etc. but it certainly doesn't do much! What do you think?

Regards, Roger.