Won't display anything from power up HELP!

rysktkr · 09-05-2006, 03:20 PM

Let me start out by saying this was a working stable system. Not overclocked. I noticed a different behavior on the system, it was no longer displaying the POST information to the screen as it always has. I also could not get into the BIOS. Actually, I probably could but couldn't see what I would be doing. Even though this was happening the computer would open windows XP fine and work with no issues other than not being able to get into the BIOS. Finally, I decided it was time to reset the BIOS via jumper now I can no longer boot to XP. The computer does not display anything on power up.

I have the following HW:
Abit At7 Mobo
ATI All in Wonder 7500 graphics card.

As an experiment I swapped a different graphics card. When I powered up I was able to see the POST and enter BIOS. After another power cycle with this card it also no longer displayed anything. I put that card back into the PC I got it out of and it works fine in that PC. I put the old video card back in but still don't get anything displayed. I tried several time to reset CMOS but nothing changed. I also pulled the power on all my drives no difference. I also measured power (3.3V, 5V, and 12V) and the supply appears to be good. I do think CPU is good as I was able to get POST one time with the new graphics card. I'm not sure what else to try. HELP!

rysktkr · 09-05-2006, 04:57 PM

Just some more data. I do get a single POST beep but that's it. Nothing shown on the monitor. Additionally, this mobo has no on board graphics.

**linderman** · 09-05-2006, 05:38 PM

does the cpu fan stay running all the while ????? do you get any complete shutdowns or were you getting any shutdowns before the video / bios screen problem

can you test your ram in another computer ????? use memtest 86 (free in my sig) run the test for atleast two hours

when you clear the cmos >>> are you unplugging your power cord from the electrical home outlet >>>> then remove the battery for 15 minutes
then reload the bios defaults < then hit save changes and exit ??????

do you have a PCI slot video card you could try ????? many times you can pick these up used any any computer store for like $5.00 this would rule out "other" things as the problem >>>>> if the pci slot (not pci express) video card works and you can see the screen >>>> your agp slot maybe bad

rysktkr · 09-05-2006, 05:46 PM

hi linderman,

I think I solved my problem. I tried swapping video cards again and the system displays POST with the new card. I was setting improper CPU speed when I tried booting again with new card and it wouldn't display. Once I got that setup correctly the new card always displays POST.

My old card apparently didn't like that I had the video card fan (aka noise maker) disconnected :-(.

What was strange about this though was that it would boot into windows XP but it never displayed POST and I was never able to get into BIOS because I couldn't see it. I use DVI so I'm thinking there must be different circuitry that drives POST and BIOS then what is used for XP.

rysktkr · 09-05-2006, 06:56 PM

There is definitely something different in DVI with how POST and BIOS is displayed is different then how XP is displayed. POST and BIOS do not get displayed XP however is no problem. Must be driven off of different pins.

09-05-2006, 03:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
rysktkr Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 8 OS: XP	Won't display anything from power up HELP! Let me start out by saying this was a working stable system. Not overclocked. I noticed a different behavior on the system, it was no longer displaying the POST information to the screen as it always has. I also could not get into the BIOS. Actually, I probably could but couldn't see what I would be doing. Even though this was happening the computer would open windows XP fine and work with no issues other than not being able to get into the BIOS. Finally, I decided it was time to reset the BIOS via jumper now I can no longer boot to XP. The computer does not display anything on power up. I have the following HW: Abit At7 Mobo ATI All in Wonder 7500 graphics card. As an experiment I swapped a different graphics card. When I powered up I was able to see the POST and enter BIOS. After another power cycle with this card it also no longer displayed anything. I put that card back into the PC I got it out of and it works fine in that PC. I put the old video card back in but still don't get anything displayed. I tried several time to reset CMOS but nothing changed. I also pulled the power on all my drives no difference. I also measured power (3.3V, 5V, and 12V) and the supply appears to be good. I do think CPU is good as I was able to get POST one time with the new graphics card. I'm not sure what else to try. HELP!

09-05-2006, 05:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 19,375 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	does the cpu fan stay running all the while ????? do you get any complete shutdowns or were you getting any shutdowns before the video / bios screen problem can you test your ram in another computer ????? use memtest 86 (free in my sig) run the test for atleast two hours when you clear the cmos >>> are you unplugging your power cord from the electrical home outlet >>>> then remove the battery for 15 minutes then reload the bios defaults < then hit save changes and exit ?????? do you have a PCI slot video card you could try ????? many times you can pick these up used any any computer store for like $5.00 this would rule out "other" things as the problem >>>>> if the pci slot (not pci express) video card works and you can see the screen >>>> your agp slot maybe bad __________________ Even a Broken Clock is Right Twice a Day ! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial Last edited by linderman; 09-05-2006 at 05:39 PM.

09-05-2006, 04:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
rysktkr Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 8 OS: XP	Just some more data. I do get a single POST beep but that's it. Nothing shown on the monitor. Additionally, this mobo has no on board graphics.

09-05-2006, 05:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
rysktkr Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 8 OS: XP	hi linderman, I think I solved my problem. I tried swapping video cards again and the system displays POST with the new card. I was setting improper CPU speed when I tried booting again with new card and it wouldn't display. Once I got that setup correctly the new card always displays POST. My old card apparently didn't like that I had the video card fan (aka noise maker) disconnected :-(. What was strange about this though was that it would boot into windows XP but it never displayed POST and I was never able to get into BIOS because I couldn't see it. I use DVI so I'm thinking there must be different circuitry that drives POST and BIOS then what is used for XP.

09-05-2006, 06:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
rysktkr Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 8 OS: XP	There is definitely something different in DVI with how POST and BIOS is displayed is different then how XP is displayed. POST and BIOS do not get displayed XP however is no problem. Must be driven off of different pins.