PC turns on, but monitor doesn't show anything?

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April 20th, 2009, 01:45 PM
ztein

PC turns on, but monitor doesn't show anything?

Hello.

I got this Dell Desktop PC recently.

It's Pentium 4, and got a SATA Hard Drive.

I hooked it up all properly, but when I start it the CPU fan starts working and the LCD monitor doesnt show anything on the screen. It just keeps blinking its orange light(that's when monitor is on but the PC is off).

Monitor is fine, also tried with a different monitor, but no difference.

Also I tried different CPUs(it's believed that both CPU's I used are 99% dead) but still the monitor won't show anything on the screen.

There are no beeps signaled when the PC starts up.

All I can say is that when you open the case you'll see an orange LED on the motherboard.

What's the problem here?

Thanks.
April 20th, 2009, 01:55 PM
Midknyte

First off, check for bad caps.
http://www.badcaps.net/
April 20th, 2009, 02:03 PM
ztein

You suggest that Badcaps suggest that I own a partially fried motherboard?
April 20th, 2009, 02:04 PM
Train

Happens more time than we care to think about too.
April 20th, 2009, 02:30 PM
Midknyte

There was a bunch of Dells with bad caps. It only takes a minute to check them. Depending on the model, you may be able to request a replacement from Dell.

What does it take for people to take me seriously around here? :p
April 20th, 2009, 04:11 PM
SuperSparks

Try clearing the CMOS in case it got scrambled. There should be a jumper on the motherboard to do that, if there isn't or you can't find it then pulling the motherboard battery out for a few minutes will achieve the same result (unplug the power lead as well).
April 20th, 2009, 04:41 PM
ztein

SuperSparks
-Will do.

Midknyte
-The PC is not mine, it was donated, and I have no time for the replacement(If it is possible in my case).
April 21st, 2009, 05:38 AM
SpywareDr

Quote:

Originally Posted by ztein

I hooked it up all properly, but when I start it the CPU fan starts working

All that means is the CPU fan is getting power from the power supply, (through the CPU_FAN connector on the motherboard).

Quote:

Originally Posted by ztein

... the LCD monitor doesnt show anything on the screen. It just keeps blinking its orange light(that's when monitor is on but the PC is off).

Monitor is fine, also tried with a different monitor, but no difference.

The blinking orange LED on the monitor means it cannot detect a working computer. (Check the cable and connector[s] ... and the computer of course).

Until the computer is working and sending something to display on the monitor, (through a working, properly attached cable), the monitor will remain blank ... simply because it isn't receiving anything to display.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ztein

Also I tried different CPUs(it's believed that both CPU's I used are 99% dead) but still the monitor won't show anything on the screen.

A computer cannot think without a "brain". The CPU is the "brain". If the CPU is flaky/dead, the computer is too stupid to be able to send anything at all to the screen.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ztein

There are no beeps signaled when the PC starts up.

A computer cannot think without a "brain".

Quote:

Originally Posted by ztein

All I can say is that when you open the case you'll see an orange LED on the motherboard.

All that means is that the motherboard is getting power from the power supply.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ztein

What's the problem here?

The first thing I'd do is take a quick look for bad caps, then plug in a known-good CPU, as well as known-good RAM, and then try powering it up again.

If it still fails, try a different motherboard.