BFMracing
General Category => Tech Support and Chat => Topic started by: Spidey on July 25, 2008, 07:06:03 AM
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For the last two weeks, Everytime I switch my computer on, my monitor shows 'No Signal'. The power button on my monitor will then flash on and off. It usually does that when I switch my comp off to show there isnt actgually a signal. However I can hear my computer working. I try switching the screen off and on again after 10mins but still I get the same message.
I have to switch off my computer by either switching off the plug or holding the power button down. I know thats the wrong way but otherwise there is no other way to turn my computer off.
If i move my computer about on my desk it will work occasionally and show me the screen but most of the time i have to shift my comp around to find a good spot for it to work. (I don't understand it either). 8/10 of the times it does actually give me a signal, my computer will completely lock up and after about 10 mins it will restart itself and give me 'no signal'.
It's very frustrating I feel the need to throw my computer out of the window. It is no longer under guarantee and it's only around 2-3 years old. I have checked for viruses and have made sure all of the wires are actually plugged in. I have also switched monitors but I am to no avail. It's definitly my computer and not my monitor.
Do I send it off to be fixed or would it be better to buy a new computer. I have had many problems with this computer in the past. The first time it went went wrong it was a week after the guarantee was up :bang:
If you have any idea's to fix this it will be greatly appriciated. I'm amazed it is actually staying on right now. It's been on for 15mins. However I have had to move it so the computer is half way hanging off my desk :doh:
Please Help.
Spidey.
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It sounds like your video card is at fault, but try dusting out the inside if your computer, especially any heat sinks with a buildup of dust before you go buy a new one.
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It sounds like your video card is at fault, but try dusting out the inside if your computer, especially any heat sinks with a buildup of dust before you go buy a new one.
ACK!!! No wait!
Don't muck with your video card /case insides just yet!
The Old Adage of Three Steps to Computer Repair* comes first!:
1) Check the cables.
2) Check the cables.
3) CHECK THE CABLES!
I'm betting that your cable's NOT screwed in in the back, or is otherwise loose.
In fact, it may have formed a bad connection in the cable itself! (I had two old monitors like this, that only worked when you held their video cable a certain way....)
Try wiggling the cable around SLOWLY, WHILE IT'S RUNNING and (have someone watch to) see if you get any flashes of image or anything....
It still might be a dirty or loose Graphics Adapter, but don't open up your case until you've tried external stuff first. (Although if it's crashing on you, it does sound like the GA might not be fully seated or something....)
Oh, and NEVER EVER turn off the power at the back switch! (Unless the following method won't work, that is....) Always use the "hold the front switch in for four seconds" method, as it has a better chance of shutting things down more nicely....
* Actually, it's an adage for networking, but hey, it fit my suggestion here, so.... ::)
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one thing that gets alot ppl is that the signal may be coming out of the secondary display and you have your monitor plugged into the primary display (or vice versa)
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I dont get it iseecrazyppl? You make all those imposter servers and then you try to help on our tech support? Maybe you just really love us. Im just VERY proud you were banned on our servers. Each imposter server you have up just proves you have no integrity and are the VERY person we are happy to not have around BFM.
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I would go with MrMxy (dudes always right, bet he reads stuff :bang:)
my partners mum had similar problem, changed lead, tickerty boo.
good luck
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I had something similar with my new monitor, turned out portable device was set to the 1st boot device. Meaning whenever i had a flashdrive or portable cd usd drive, the computer would run and try to boot from nothing, but the screen said "check signal" then went to sleep. an easy fix in the BIOS, not sure if you're having the same problem. but make sure you have that set right because it sounds similar. But try doing what Mxy said first of course.
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I've checked the cables, i've wiggled wires
wround but still nothing it seems to only want to give me a signal when it wants to.
The other problem is that when my monitor does work after 10mins the computer will lock up, restart itself and give me no signal all over again.
why is it shutting itself down??
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I've checked the cables, i've wiggled wires wround but still nothing it seems to only want to give me a signal when it wants to.
The other problem is that when my monitor does work after 10mins the computer will lock up, restart itself and give me no signal all over again.
why is it shutting itself down??
If the computer is "locking up" or "crashing" it's more than just a monitor problem!
In fact, that sounds like a memory or CPU heat problem (or slow-failure) to me....
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If the computer is "locking up" or "crashing" it's more than just a monitor problem!
In fact, that sounds like a memory or CPU heat problem (or slow-failure) to me....
that doesnt sound too good.
what can i do to fix it??
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If the computer is "locking up" or "crashing" it's more than just a monitor problem!
In fact, that sounds like a memory or CPU heat problem (or slow-failure) to me....
that doesnt sound too good.
what can i do to fix it??
First thing is to find out if it's heat related:
- Does it happen less often when the machine's been off over night, during play right after it's started up (after a night cooling off....)
- Does it seem to get worse and worse as you have you machine running?
- Do you have software that you can use to monitor the temps inside your computer? (Some gaming machines/video devices come with this....)
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Mxy seems like a very well trained IT guy. Suggested everything I can think of off the top of my head.
But after a few minutes of thought...it may be possible that your something-or-other is defective (my hopes as to not vary with the component)
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i have come to the conlusion that it isnot a heating problem nor is it a monitor problem
when i switch my computer on... if i hear a loud whirring sound, iwill get no signal. however if the whirring sound is a lot quieter, thescreen will work.
as soon as the loud whirring sound comes back then it will lock up and give me no signal
the biggest problem is i only get the quiet whirring sound 0.05 times out of ten. lets just say thats very rarely
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Hmm... This whirring sound, does it make the top of the back of your PC case vibrate, and does it go or quieten when this area is given a light tap?
Probably your PSU fan blocked up or about to burn out. I would suggest cleaning or replacing it if that's the case.
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Spidey, this sounds like almost exactly what happened to me. My computer was making the whirring sound like when I boot up some program, but the screen was dark, with a "no signal" every time I tried to power down and up again.
The only difference is that once mine stopped, I couldn't get it working again.
I needed a new mother board. :-/
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Both of you: That "loud whirring sound" you're hearing is the CPU fan going full speed all of a sudden.
Many of the fans inside a case nowadays have the ability to adjust their speed based on a signal from the motherboard (BIOS/firmware) and/or the temperature inside the case (via a thermistor.) BUT, the DEFAULT state for such fans is "FULL ON" (which makes a LOT of sense when you think about it!)
So the only reason that you hear that sound is because the system has gone into startup again (as a result of the just-prior crash), and the CPU fan goes back to FULL ON until the system gets control from the BIOS and sends it the "CALM DOWN!" signal/info.
In your case, Spidey, when you continue to hear the loud whirring sound upon startup - for longer than startup would/should take - it's because your system is FAILING to take over from the BIOS/firmware. I.e. It's "jammed up" during the hardware part of startup.
While this is helpful, it, unfortunately is not possible to diagnose from a distance: It requires hands-on diagnostics of individual components (i.e. yank them out and test them independently) - including the mobo itself (as was the problem in Jane's case), and special (low-level) diagnostic SW and even diagnostic hardware. (learn about POST devices. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-on_self-test))
P.S. POST devices are getting more commonplace, actually! My new mobo has one* - with a two-hex-digit LED display - built right on it! It told me that I was having problems with my memory the first time I tried to boot it up, and I was able to correct the problem right away as a result! No guesswork or trial-and-error stuff! Kewl!
* If you look in the bottom-right portion of my mobo in the first pic of this post (http://www.bfmracing.net/forums/index.php/topic,9512.msg105433.html#msg105433) (if you view the image separately you can zoom in and see...) you can see the hex digit LED display. It's the little gray block slightly hidden by the colorful bunch of wires (front panel connections.)
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Spidey, this sounds like almost exactly what happened to me. My computer was making the whirring sound like when I boot up some program, but the screen was dark, with a "no signal" every time I tried to power down and up again.
The only difference is that once mine stopped, I couldn't get it working again.
I needed a new mother board. :-/
My computer stopped working altogether too. I took it to a computer repair place.. They told me I need a new motherboard. :doh:
They said too much dust had gathered in the comp and killed the motherboard.
I also need a new graphics card, but they told me my computer has a special 'on button' for the graphics card and they don't make those graphics card anymore.
So I just have to wait and see what happens. :bang: