PC boots with blank screen

jonhostetler · 12-06-2005, 12:13 PM

Hello, this is my first post.

I'm having trouble with my Compaq Presario 4400US. My computer has a 1.3Ghz Celeron processor with 512MB of SDRAM and a 60gb Seagate hard drive running Windows XP Pro. One day, I was using the computer, and it worked like normal. Then, a few days later, I booted it up, and nothing shows on the LCD (monitor). Now, there was a 1-hour power outage in my house, so I am thinking that, since I didn't have the computer plugged into a surge protector, something got damaged.

Here's what happens when I boot up the computer: The tower, LCD (17-inch), and speakers are all plugged into a surge protector (now), and everything is securely attached to the computer. I push the power button on the tower, and it sounds like everything is running (hard drive, power supply, CPU fan all make noise), but the LCD remains in "power-saving" mode (the screen is blank - no images, cursors; nothing). So, somehow a signal is not being transmitted to the screen. I've tried waiting for a few minutes to see if I could hear XP Pro start up, but the speakers (which are powered on) do not make any sounds. At first, I thought maybe the LCD was broken, so I tested it on another computer (the one I'm using now), but it worked properly, so I know that the monitor is not the problem.

So, the advise I'm asking for is this: What component is malfunctioning? I'm not an expert when it comes to hardware, but my guess is that the problem is either in the power supply or the motherboard (I have no idea which components could be hurt from a surge - any ideas?).

Thanks in advance for your help.

- Jonathan Hostetler

dai · 12-07-2005, 10:52 AM

i would suspect the power supply

jonhostetler · 12-07-2005, 12:41 PM

Thanks, dai, for the advise. But if the power supply didn't work, wouldn't the computer not even power on (it powers on, but just shows nothing- blank screen)? Or is it possible that the power supply "works," but just not properly? If I want to test to see if the power supply is the problem, can I just use any power supply, or do only certain power supplies work on certain computers? Sorry, like I said, I'm not a hardware expert.

dai · 12-07-2005, 12:54 PM

i think compaq use supplies configured to their own design it is probably just no longer putting out enough power
you may find this useful
http://www.techsupportforum.com/moth...ultimeter.html
the easiest way is if you can borrow a compaq supply to swap in to see

jonhostetler · 12-12-2005, 12:42 PM

Dai - Thanks for your advice and help. I decided to use the computer for parts instead of buying extra parts to try to make it work.

12-06-2005, 12:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
jonhostetler Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP Pro	PC boots with blank screen Hello, this is my first post. I'm having trouble with my Compaq Presario 4400US. My computer has a 1.3Ghz Celeron processor with 512MB of SDRAM and a 60gb Seagate hard drive running Windows XP Pro. One day, I was using the computer, and it worked like normal. Then, a few days later, I booted it up, and nothing shows on the LCD (monitor). Now, there was a 1-hour power outage in my house, so I am thinking that, since I didn't have the computer plugged into a surge protector, something got damaged. Here's what happens when I boot up the computer: The tower, LCD (17-inch), and speakers are all plugged into a surge protector (now), and everything is securely attached to the computer. I push the power button on the tower, and it sounds like everything is running (hard drive, power supply, CPU fan all make noise), but the LCD remains in "power-saving" mode (the screen is blank - no images, cursors; nothing). So, somehow a signal is not being transmitted to the screen. I've tried waiting for a few minutes to see if I could hear XP Pro start up, but the speakers (which are powered on) do not make any sounds. At first, I thought maybe the LCD was broken, so I tested it on another computer (the one I'm using now), but it worked properly, so I know that the monitor is not the problem. So, the advise I'm asking for is this: What component is malfunctioning? I'm not an expert when it comes to hardware, but my guess is that the problem is either in the power supply or the motherboard (I have no idea which components could be hurt from a surge - any ideas?). Thanks in advance for your help. - Jonathan Hostetler

12-07-2005, 10:52 AM	#2 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,569 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	i would suspect the power supply __________________

12-07-2005, 12:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,569 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	i think compaq use supplies configured to their own design it is probably just no longer putting out enough power you may find this useful http://www.techsupportforum.com/moth...ultimeter.html the easiest way is if you can borrow a compaq supply to swap in to see __________________

12-07-2005, 12:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
jonhostetler Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP Pro	Thanks, dai, for the advise. But if the power supply didn't work, wouldn't the computer not even power on (it powers on, but just shows nothing- blank screen)? Or is it possible that the power supply "works," but just not properly? If I want to test to see if the power supply is the problem, can I just use any power supply, or do only certain power supplies work on certain computers? Sorry, like I said, I'm not a hardware expert.

12-12-2005, 12:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
jonhostetler Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP Pro	Dai - Thanks for your advice and help. I decided to use the computer for parts instead of buying extra parts to try to make it work.