SubJeff on 8/9/2010 at 18:44
My computer seems to start ok. It makes ask the right noises, i can hear the hd running and there are no error bleeps.
But the screen(s) display nothing, the "on" lights on them just flash. This is normal on start up uuntil the login screen comes up so I type the password anyway and one time I got sound from the speakers - a Windows 7 notification chime, like when it tells you something needs changing (like the color scheme!).
But the screens remain blank.
Pressing the off button turns the computer off instantly, and iirc if I do that normally I have to hold it down.
I've had a look inside and all the fans, including the gfx card fan, are running.
Wtf is going on? I don't have a spare gfx card to test and I'm suspecting it's new gfx card time.
Edit: on the last start up the welcome come went off. Seems there is just no video output.
Ostriig on 8/9/2010 at 19:52
A couple of things - first off, rule out the RAM. If you're sure that you've heard Windows sounds, not POST error beeps, then I think you needn't worry about the RAM. If not, you can test the memory modules by taking them out and powering on with only one installed at a time (test each module with both/all sockets).
Next, if you want to test the video output, check if you have a standard VGA port on the motherboard and try plugging into that. You should have one, I don't remember having seen a mainboard without a basic integrated video output yet.
A third possibility might be the PSU. You mentioned that you heard the "welcome sound"
once out of several boot attempts. That suggests that the boot sequence fails at different points, not one specific step. I've had some years ago a situation where a dying PSU would cause my rig to fail at various points along the boot (even succeeding and working on some attempts), and while I didn't have any issues with the video output, it is possible that in your situation a wonky power supply might be failing the video card's demands at the same time.
But there's something else I wanna clarify:
Quote:
This is normal on start up uuntil the login screen comes up
You mean that you
normally wouldn't see a POST screen? It would just go from black directly to the Windows login, no designating the used video output, no memory and drives check on-screen, etc.?
SubJeff on 9/9/2010 at 06:44
I do get a POST, its just on the second screen which is usually off so I forget I get one.
I think its my ram. I get the ram error bleep with one stick in.
More testing tonight.
SubJeff on 9/9/2010 at 21:50
So this is messed up.
Every stick of ram causes the continous beep, regardless of which slot I put them in. I'm thinking either total ram failure (unlikely) or mother board failure.
Before I took the ram out to test it this error beep never went of though.
Thoughts anyone?
Al_B on 9/9/2010 at 21:53
Which motherboard / RAM type do you have? It may be that the RAM needs to be installed in pairs so a single stick of RAM may not work.
SubJeff on 10/9/2010 at 06:33
Its a asus p5en sli I believe. I've tried it with 2 sticks.
Al_B on 10/9/2010 at 14:26
OK. I couldn't find the P5E-n on ASUS's website but it's probably similar to the base P5E model. You should be fine with a single stick, as long as you put it in one of the yellow sockets.
Can you get back to the situation where the computer was booting windows but not showing anything on the screen? Although it could be a RAM problem, normally these result in random crashes and as long as it gets past POST I haven't seen a problem myself where it doesn't display anything on the screen.
Ostriig on 11/9/2010 at 02:11
In that case is it possible that the PSU's going and it's failing to supply enough power to the graphics card, would there be any noticeable spike in power usage once the OS boots compared to the POST? Would it be worth taking the graphics card out altogether, to prevent any power consumption by it, and trying the integrated video output?
Al_B on 11/9/2010 at 09:53
The P5E doesn't have integrated video. The P5E-VM does in the form of HDMI but I doubt he has that version.
SubJeff on 11/9/2010 at 12:03
Yeah I got no integrated video. I've put the ram in the yellow slots, knew that the way to do it.
