power outage computer turns on but no display

bumere90 · 07-24-2012, 08:21 AM

Power went out last night when my computer was running. Computer turns on I can hear the beep but the HDD light does not come on and there is no display. What should my steps be here to troubleshoot the problem?

UncleWede · 07-24-2012, 11:49 AM

Unplug computer. Open cover. Unplug everything, both power and data, then reseat. Same could be done with RAM chips.

Plug back in and fire her up.

IF no response, you could put the HD into a USB enclosure and connect to another computer to see if HD got fried.

Mi330xi · 07-24-2012, 11:55 AM

Your video card is probably dead, I have fried several and how you describe it is exactly what a dead video card looks like.

UncleWede · 07-24-2012, 12:22 PM

"but the HDD ligth does not come on" pretty much eliminates the video card, UNLESS the beeps he hears are POST beeps and different than his normal startup sounds.

Draven · 07-24-2012, 02:40 PM

There are 4 key components in your PC:

Motherboard
CPU
Ram
PSU

If you have issues with one of them, the PC won't POST (power on self test) and you won't hear an audible beep when the PC is turned on. If you're not getting the POST beep, your issue is one of those components.

I've seen a lot of surged PCs like either unplugging the box itself for an hour or so or unplugging the box AND power connectors from the motherboard. Give it an hour or two and then plug everything back in. Certain model HPs respond well to that.

Beyond that, the best troubleshooting is swapping compatible components into a machine that can accept them, and narrowing it down to the one component in the POST list that stops it from booting. THat said, most PCs will attempt to post and display video output with no RAM, so I wouldn't start there.

Good luck.

Seminole · 07-24-2012, 02:56 PM

Do you have the issue where you press the power button and it just gives off a long loud beep? If so, I've just unplugged the power cord from the back of the tower and plugged it back in. That's fixed the problem.

bumere90 · 07-26-2012, 03:08 PM

turned out to be the MB fml

samchoi604 · 07-26-2012, 06:30 PM

I thought modern power supplies would at least have some anti-surge capability.. How old is your computer?

bumere90 · 07-27-2012, 07:41 PM

bought it brand new a year ago
I thought so too, but obviously not all of them do

07-24-2012, 08:21 AM	#1
bumere90 Grozniy Drives: E90 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: FL Posts: 2,303 iTrader: (11)	power outage computer turns on but no display Power went out last night when my computer was running. Computer turns on I can hear the beep but the HDD light does not come on and there is no display. What should my steps be here to troubleshoot the problem? __________________ http://funnyasduck.net/wp-content/up...imated-gif.gif
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07-24-2012, 11:55 AM	#3
Mi330xi Captain Drives: 2006 330xi Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lansing, Mi Posts: 702 iTrader: (8) Garage List 2012 Morgan 3 Wheeler [5.00] 2006 E90 [0.00] 2007 Mini Cooper S ... [0.00]	Your video card is probably dead, I have fried several and how you describe it is exactly what a dead video card looks like. __________________ M O R G A N — B M W — M I N I

07-24-2012, 02:56 PM	#6
Seminole Lieutenant Colonel Drives: Red Flyer Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: 38.8977° N, 77.0366° W Posts: 1,986 iTrader: (2) Garage List 2008 E90 328i [3.50]	Do you have the issue where you press the power button and it just gives off a long loud beep? If so, I've just unplugged the power cord from the back of the tower and plugged it back in. That's fixed the problem. __________________

07-26-2012, 03:08 PM	#7
bumere90 Grozniy Drives: E90 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: FL Posts: 2,303 iTrader: (11)	turned out to be the MB fml __________________ http://funnyasduck.net/wp-content/up...imated-gif.gif

07-27-2012, 07:41 PM	#9
bumere90 Grozniy Drives: E90 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: FL Posts: 2,303 iTrader: (11)	bought it brand new a year ago I thought so too, but obviously not all of them do __________________ http://funnyasduck.net/wp-content/up...imated-gif.gif

07-24-2012, 11:49 AM	#2
UncleWede Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner Drives: E90 325i Arctic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxnard, CA Posts: 2,245 iTrader: (0)	Unplug computer. Open cover. Unplug everything, both power and data, then reseat. Same could be done with RAM chips. Plug back in and fire her up. IF no response, you could put the HD into a USB enclosure and connect to another computer to see if HD got fried.

07-24-2012, 12:22 PM	#4
UncleWede Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner Drives: E90 325i Arctic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxnard, CA Posts: 2,245 iTrader: (0)	"but the HDD ligth does not come on" pretty much eliminates the video card, UNLESS the beeps he hears are POST beeps and different than his normal startup sounds.

07-24-2012, 02:40 PM	#5
Draven BMW traitor until M3 comes out Drives: C6 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Merrimack, NH Posts: 112 iTrader: (0)	There are 4 key components in your PC: Motherboard CPU Ram PSU If you have issues with one of them, the PC won't POST (power on self test) and you won't hear an audible beep when the PC is turned on. If you're not getting the POST beep, your issue is one of those components. I've seen a lot of surged PCs like either unplugging the box itself for an hour or so or unplugging the box AND power connectors from the motherboard. Give it an hour or two and then plug everything back in. Certain model HPs respond well to that. Beyond that, the best troubleshooting is swapping compatible components into a machine that can accept them, and narrowing it down to the one component in the POST list that stops it from booting. THat said, most PCs will attempt to post and display video output with no RAM, so I wouldn't start there. Good luck.

07-26-2012, 06:30 PM	#8
samchoi604 Colonel Drives: black on black Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Burnaby, BC Posts: 2,296 iTrader: (3)	I thought modern power supplies would at least have some anti-surge capability.. How old is your computer?

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