PC Problem: No Video

[Zieen]

A few days ago, I came to my computer and booted it up just as normal, but had no video. My computer has never made post beeps when it was starting up, so I couldn't tell if there was a problem, but after waiting for a short while, I heard the 'Windows Chime' from my login screen.

My first guess was the video card. I removed it and tried my onboard video. The onboard video didn't work either. I tried clearing CMOS with no success. I removed two of my three sticks of RAM with no success. I tried another stick on its own with no success.

I have since replaced the motherboard and am still receiving no video. I have tried in three different monitors. Tonight, I tried a different power supply with no success. I have unplugged every peripheral and drive and still have no video. It seems the only thing left is the CPU, but I'm pretty well broke and really don't want to buy yet another part with no success.

Is there anything else it could be or am I going to have to spend another $200?

 

[Dangman]

Did you try doing the build outside of a case? Like on top of a motherboard box?

 

[Jeffman]

That's a little odd...I would guess it's either the GFX card or the monitor. I can't image the CPU being bad, especially if it's POSTing and you can hear it loading into Windows.

I'd try a combination of GFX cards and monitors.

 

[Zieen]

I have tried three different graphics cards. Two of them have worked in a second computer. I found a PC speaker and I'm not getting any post beeps. I don't know if it's still booting up, as I have a new mobo and the drives have been disconnected.

I tried removing it from the case and I still have no video or post beeps.

I just removed the heatsink and processor and found a small amount of thermal paste on one of the pins. Could this destroy the processor or mobo?

 

[Dangman]

What's the specs of your PC anyway? Also, please list out what you swapped into the PC.

I have tried three different graphics cards. Two of them have worked in a second computer.

What about that 3rd one? Did you test that in the second PC?

I don't know if it's still booting up, as I have a new mobo and the drives have been disconnected.

Plug in the OS drive and the audio to see if it's still booting.

I just removed the heatsink and processor and found a small amount of thermal paste on one of the pins. Could this destroy the processor or mobo?

Not destroy but it could explain the issue. Clean out the thermal paste and see if the issue still occurs.

Also, test the RAM, HDD, GPU, PSU and USB/audio peripherals (speakers and mice) from your PC in another PC to completely rule those parts out. In addition, disconnect the front panel connectors and start the PC with a screwdriver.

 

[Twiz]

Have you tried to switch cables to your monitor ? I had a simular problem a few days ago when turning on my computer but it didnt show anything on my monitor. Could hear all the sounds from windows just fine. Switched between the various plugs on my gfx card and still nothing. Then found a simular cable and that worked. My problem was the cable, might be the same for you.

If it was a cpu failure, it would still show something on your monitor iirc.
Also, some motherboards will show an error code on the display on the motherboard. If there's a failure, you can look up that error code in the manual.

 

[Outamyhead]

If it sounds like it's getting to windows, I would say bad VGA/DVI/HDMI cable or your monitor has given up the ghost, try another monitor and see what happens.

 

[Zieen]

What's the specs of your PC anyway? Also, please list out what you swapped into the PC.

CPU: Phenom 965
Motherboard: Gigabyte 970A-UD3
RAM: 3x G.Skill 2GB 1066
PSU: Corsair TX650M
GPU: Geforce 560 TI, Geforce 9800GTX+, Geforce 210

Original Motherboard: MA790GPT-UD3H (Tried onboard video)

What about that 3rd one? Did you test that in the second PC?

The PSU in the third computer would not handle the 560 TI

Plug in the OS drive and the audio to see if it's still booting.

Tried this with no success. Sound may not be working however. New motherboard and my soundcard (Asus Xonar D2X) is no long installed.

Not destroy but it could explain the issue. Clean out the thermal paste and see if the issue still occurs.

I cleaned off the thermal paste as best I could without damaging the pins. There is a very small amount that I probably wouldn't notice if it wasn't there.

Also, test the RAM, HDD, GPU, PSU and USB/audio peripherals (speakers and mice) from your PC in another PC to completely rule those parts out. In addition, disconnect the front panel connectors and start the PC with a screwdriver.

I attempted to boot the PC outside of the case with only the GeForce 210, CPU, and 1 stick of RAM installed -- booting with a screwdriver. I still had no success.

I tried a power supply out of another computer with no success. I found a small motherboard/pc speaker and plugged it in and found I had no post beeps at all. Some friends suggested the mobo may have been DOA. I returned it for a replacement, but had the same problem with the replacement. I tested the PC speaker in another computer to find it too had no post beeps -- so apparently the PC speaker is bad.

The only part I have no replaced is the CPU. However, I was booting before. Perhaps initially the motherboard was bad and during replacement I damaged the CPU. The pins look to be in good condition and I experienced no difficulties, however.

I very much do not want to purchase a new CPU, but it's starting to look like my only option.


EDIT: Also, I have tested on three different displays and confirmed the operation of the original two displays on a second computer.

EDIT 2: I realized I neglected to mention an early incident in this thread. When I was still troubleshooting the original hardware, I cleared CMOS once and booted to a "corrupted CMOS" message. I, perhaps foolishly, selected 'Use last known good settings' and rebooted with no success. I attempted to clear CMOS again, but neglected to remove the short and after a few seconds of boot the computer turned off on its own. I'm not sure if this could have damaged anything, but after I cleared the CMOS clear short and rebooted I still had no video. I have since replaced the motherboard in hopes that the one time fluke was a dying breath from the motherboard.