Computer starting but no image

[Commando84 0]

My computer at home yesterday messed up big time, when i started it the screen was black but showed it has power cause of the green lights showing it has power was on and computer had power but no network and the dvd drive made weird sounds that reminded me of a floppy drive sounds  

I installed a new Graphics card 1 month ago or so a geforce 8800 gt and im not sure if its the power supply wich is 300 or 400 watts that is messing or if its the ancient 21" monitor but it hasn't showed any weird colors yet so i doubt its the monitor  

I have put out a order on a 600 wats power supply but it won't be around until next week at least

Sometime my computer did startup and then it shut itself down, but i could start it up after that with no problems, its been like that for a year but now it starts up but don't show anything on monitor

[echo1 0]

Sounds like a PSU problem alright. You could always hook the monitor up to a laptop or another PC to rule it out, but I doubt its that. What make was your last PSU?

[boneboys 0]

Same sort of thing happened to me when I installed my 8800gt.

I managed to keep it going by swapping around the power lines in the case.

Upgraded my 320psu for an Antec 550.

End problem.

You should have enough power to run 2D apps tho !??

[Commando84 0]

nope the whole computer screen is black even though it has power :P

I'll see if i can try a friends monitor laters to rule it out but i guess it problably is the Psu

[fasad 1]

Does it give a any POST beep when turned on?

[Yoma 0]

Could be a lot of things.

-PSU

-Mainboard (did you screw something up while installing the new VGA)

-CPU

-In some cases it could even be a faulty harddisk/dvd/cd player causing this kind of behaviour.

Try the following:

-An obvious thing to check: does the screen work on an other pc/test with another screen.

-Disconnect the power cable, turn on the power button several times, reconnect the power cable, try to start pc

-If above does not work: remove your VGA card, start pc.

If you get several beeps then chances are it's not your mainboard or cpu. If you get nothing both mainboard and cpu are still an option. If you do get several beeps, try installing your old/a different VGA. If it does boot using an older VGA chances are indeed your PSU is too light to bear the card, but it also could be that your VGA is dead/malfunctioning.

-Next try to reset the CMOS of the mainboard (usually you have to put a dipswitch in reset position, view mainboard manual for details), do put it back in normal position BEFORE YOU TRY TO POWER UP.

-If you replace the PSU and your pc still doesn't budge and your sure it's not the vga card that's dead: most likely your mainboard, they tend to die more then cpu's do (unless you did some nasty OC'ing)

Hope this get's your machine back up.

[echo1 0]

most likely your mainboard, they tend to die more then cpu's do

In fact, I'd go as far as saying that you're more likely to get struck by lightning than suffer a completely spontaneous CPU failure (of course, excluding accidents with overclocking, over-volting, fans etc.). Sound advice overall. Another thing I'd throw in on the list would be RAM failures... If the PC beeps at you when you turn it on, that could be a sign of it. Of course, what can appear to be RAM failures could really be PSU problems... I think its just best to try the new PSU, as the symptoms of a dead PSU can manifest themselves as problems with just about every single part of your machine

[Commando84 0]

Hey sorry for late reply but just if anybody else was getting this I put in a new psu with 600 watts power and also checked and double checked all cables where connected and now it all works.

[rstratton 0]

Hey sorry for late reply but just if anybody else was getting this I put in a new psu with 600 watts power and also checked and double checked all cables where connected and now it all works.

ur lucky. last time my psu went out it took the motherboard with it