No video...onboard or DVI...help plz

[Encrypted Existence]

Hello all. I am a fairly new tech if you don't already know from my previous posts . I have a customers HP Pavilion a1710n here. The customer brought the computer in to me complaining that there was no video output.


Computer specs: AMD 64X2 dual core CPU, 2 GB RAM, Nvidia GeForce 9600 DVI PCIe video card. OS: Vista

What I've done so far:
Tested PSU: ALL power connectors going from PSU to mobo tested fine (P1, PCIe 12v, ATX 12V)...both fans (CPU and case) spin when powered.
Hooked up monitor to onboard video (VGA)...nothing.
Hooked up monitor to Nvidia video card (I'm using a VGA/DVI converter)...nothing.
Reset CMOS (took battery out for a few min.)...tested onboard and Nvidia card again...nothing.
Removed Nvidia card completely and tried onboard...nothing.
Reseated Nvidia card and tested it again...nothing.
Took out ALL RAM and tested onboard video...nothing...THE THING DIDN'T EVEN BEEP WHEN POWERED ON W/O ANY RAM...?
Reseated all RAM and tried both onboard video AND Nvidia card again...nothing.

I examined the caps and none of them appear to be bulging or burnt. My diagnosis thus far is that the mobo is bad. Did I forget anything? Any and all advice/insight will be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

 

[thecomputerguy]

Hello all. I am a fairly new tech if you don't already know from my previous posts . I have a customers HP Pavilion a1710n here. The customer brought the computer in to me complaining that there was no video output.


Computer specs: AMD 64X2 dual core CPU, 2 GB RAM, Nvidia GeForce 9600 DVI PCIe video card. OS: Vista

What I've done so far:
Tested PSU: ALL power connectors going from PSU to mobo tested fine (P1, PCIe 12v, ATX 12V)...both fans (CPU and case) spin when powered.
Hooked up monitor to onboard video (VGA)...nothing.
Hooked up monitor to Nvidia video card (I'm using a VGA/DVI converter)...nothing.
Reset CMOS (took battery out for a few min.)...tested onboard and Nvidia card again...nothing.
Removed Nvidia card completely and tried onboard...nothing.
Reseated Nvidia card and tested it again...nothing.
Took out ALL RAM and tested onboard video...nothing...THE THING DIDN'T EVEN BEEP WHEN POWERED ON W/O ANY RAM...?
Reseated all RAM and tried both onboard video AND Nvidia card again...nothing.

I examined the caps and none of them appear to be bulging or burnt. My diagnosis thus far is that the mobo is bad. Did I forget anything? Any and all advice/insight will be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

Can't say for sure without testing the CPU but it is RARELY a CPU problem ... I would be leaning towards motherboard as well on this one.

Good Diagnosis ... time for a data recovery and a new computer.

 

[Tony_Scarpelli]

Assuming you already unplugged all IDE devices, then time for a new mobo.

I've seen a bad IDE device appear like a bad mobo. So unplug the optical drive and hd during your mobo tests in the future.

 

[MobileTechie]

The only thing I'd add is that testing a PSU does not guarantee it's working perfectly. The only way I've found to eliminate the PSU is to swap in a known good one. I've used a variety of testing methods including testers that claim to load the circuits and they still pass PSUs that are faulty.

Also it's worth swapping in a known good CMOS battery.

Having said all that. I bet it's a bad mobo.

 

[kevinjhaag]

Can't add much than what these guys already mentioned. I would conclude that the motherboard is faulty if you can't even get it to POST. But I would make sure all devices are disconnected from motherboard. Whats only needed is power, cpu, ram. As menitioned, change the CMOS battery and use a known good power supply. One thing I can add is that if you have more than one stick of RAM, then try booting with one and trying different slots on each restart; then trying another stick and doing the same again. I have seen computers not even post or display anything due to bad RAM, bad RAM slot, or even for some reason can't run into dual channel mode anymore. Good Luck and let us know what you end up finding out and do to fix it. Later.

Kevin

 

[shamrin]

You've got to swap the PSU before you declare the unit dead. I have an HP desktop here right now that wouldn't POST. Fans go, lights light, no POST. PSU voltages OK. What was the problem? Bad PSU, after swapping it, the machine runs great.

 

[Encrypted Existence]

Update

1.)Tested all 4 sticks of RAM in a known working machine (one at a time, by themselves) and the machine posted and booted in to XP just fine each time. Now I know that the RAM is not causing the video issue.
2.)Swapped CMOS battery for known good...nothing.
3.)Unplugged everything but the essenials (CPU, RAM, and power) and powered on...nothing.
4.)Swapped PSU out with known good...still nothing. (could only test VGA because the known good that I used didn't have a PCIe power lead.)

My diagnosis is that either the mobo or CPU is bad. I don't have a spare CPU to test with so this is about as far as I can go. Man I really need to start collecting some spare parts! It's on the top of my list of things to do.

 

[Tony_Scarpelli]

The only thing I'd add is that testing a PSU does not guarantee it's working perfectly. The only way I've found to eliminate the PSU is to swap in a known good one. I've used a variety of testing methods including testers that claim to load the circuits and they still pass PSUs that are faulty.

Also it's worth swapping in a known good CMOS battery.

Having said all that. I bet it's a bad mobo.

Just like running memtest for ram.

but that is the exception.

I never run memtest as it takes too long. It is faster to swap memory on the other hand it is faster to test a PSU than swap. Still if you ruled out everything else and the PSU tested good, you might swap the PSU just like you might swap memory that passed a memtest.

 

[Tony_Scarpelli]

1.)Tested all 4 sticks of RAM in a known working machine (one at a time, by themselves) and the machine posted and booted in to XP just fine each time. Now I know that the RAM is not causing the video issue.
2.)Swapped CMOS battery for known good...nothing.
3.)Unplugged everything but the essenials (CPU, RAM, and power) and powered on...nothing.
4.)Swapped PSU out with known good...still nothing. (could only test VGA because the known good that I used didn't have a PCIe power lead.)

My diagnosis is that either the mobo or CPU is bad. I don't have a spare CPU to test with so this is about as far as I can go. Man I really need to start collecting some spare parts! It's on the top of my list of things to do.

I assume you already did this, or know this but you should rule out earlier in the procss, the off on switch.

Take the power switch lead off and short with a screw driver to turn on the pc or swap the power switch with a reset switch if there is one.

 

[Encrypted Existence]

Take the power switch lead off and short with a screw driver to turn on the pc

I haven't done that yet...I'll give it a shot. Thanks

 

[Encrypted Existence]

I assume you already did this, or know this but you should rule out earlier in the procss, the off on switch.

Take the power switch lead off and short with a screw driver to turn on the pc or swap the power switch with a reset switch if there is one.

I removed the switch connector and shorted the pins...nothing...thanks for the info though. I have never done that before.

I called the customer and she said that her friend is sending her a used tower with everything in supposed working condition it just doesn't have a hard drive. Is there any way that I will be able to put the old HD in and boot from that (Vista Home Premium OEM)? I did a bit of research and I think it is against the M$ EULA to move an OEM version of an OS to another machine. Plus I am sure there will be driver issues. I would still like to know if it can be done. I am going to suggest that the customer buy a copy of XP Pro...I see it advertised for like 85$ (cost is an issue here or I'd suggest Win7). That will blow Vista out of the water. Thanks

 

[kevinjhaag]

I removed the switch connector and shorted the pins...nothing...thanks for the info though. I have never done that before.

I called the customer and she said that her friend is sending her a used tower with everything in supposed working condition it just doesn't have a hard drive. Is there any way that I will be able to put the old HD in and boot from that (Vista Home Premium OEM)? I did a bit of research and I think it is against the M$ EULA to move an OEM version of an OS to another machine. Plus I am sure there will be driver issues. I would still like to know if it can be done. I am going to suggest that the customer buy a copy of XP Pro...I see it advertised for like 85$ (cost is an issue here or I'd suggest Win7). That will blow Vista out of the water. Thanks

Its possible...but I believe it is against the eula too. Just curious, did you just use one stick of RAM when booting the computer. Like I mentioned, I have had computers not POST due to dual channel not working anymore. Otherwise I would also consider the motherboard dead. Well nothing lasts forever.

 

[Encrypted Existence]

Its possible...but I believe it is against the eula too. Just curious, did you just use one stick of RAM when booting the computer. Like I mentioned, I have had computers not POST due to dual channel not working anymore. Otherwise I would also consider the motherboard dead. Well nothing lasts forever.

I tried each stick (there's 4) in each slot separately...one at a time.

 

[kevinjhaag]

I tried each stick (there's 4) in each slot separately...one at a time.

Bummer dude! Its a bad mobo. Checkout Paragon Drive Copy 11 Professional for the above you mentioned about hard drives. It works most of the time for me but I think you might be better off with a fresh install of windows. It will run much better.

 

[Tony_Scarpelli]

I removed the switch connector and shorted the pins...nothing...thanks for the info though. I have never done that before.

I called the customer and she said that her friend is sending her a used tower with everything in supposed working condition it just doesn't have a hard drive. Is there any way that I will be able to put the old HD in and boot from that (Vista Home Premium OEM)? I did a bit of research and I think it is against the M$ EULA to move an OEM version of an OS to another machine. Plus I am sure there will be driver issues. I would still like to know if it can be done. I am going to suggest that the customer buy a copy of XP Pro...I see it advertised for like 85$ (cost is an issue here or I'd suggest Win7). That will blow Vista out of the water. Thanks

If there is a coa on the case and you replace the mobo with a like or close as possible mobo you can use the same coa and when you call MS they will allow it. Don't try to go from a single core to a quad core, they don't consider that a replacement motherboard.

On the other system, if it has a coa and you put a new drive in, you can still use that machines coa to reload.

 

[Encrypted Existence]

On the other system, if it has a coa and you put a new drive in, you can still use that machines coa to reload.

That's good info...I was unaware of that. Will I have to reinstall on a new drive or can I just call M$ and give them the COA and be able to use the drive that Vista is already installed on? (as long as I do as you advised and get a similar replacement mobo). Also in the event that the other system has a COA (whatever flavor of Windows it may be) will I be able to use that product key to reinstall as long as the disc is the exact same flavor as was previously installed or will I need the manufacturers OEM disc? Thanks.

 

[Tony_Scarpelli]

That's good info...I was unaware of that. Will I have to reinstall on a new drive or can I just call M$ and give them the COA and be able to use the drive that Vista is already installed on? (as long as I do as you advised and get a similar replacement mobo). Also in the event that the other system has a COA (whatever flavor of Windows it may be) will I be able to use that product key to reinstall as long as the disc is the exact same flavor as was previously installed or will I need the manufacturers OEM disc? Thanks.

I'd do a fresh install unless the hardware is identical. Or you could do a repair but you need to change the COA to the one that is on the machine that the hard drive goes into. that has to match.

 

[Encrypted Existence]

I'd do a fresh install unless the hardware is identical. Or you could do a repair but you need to change the COA to the one that is on the machine that the hard drive goes into. that has to match.

I was thinking fresh install anyways. Would I be able to do a repair install without the original disc (OEM)? Or could I use any Vista Home premium install disc? ( I know it's against the M$ EULA and I am definitely going the fresh install route...I just wanna know if it's as easy as popping in an install disc that matches the Windows version and doing a repair...and then of course having to call M$ to reactivate) Thanks.

 

[Tony_Scarpelli]

Yes if the coa is Vista home then use that OEM to do the reinstall. If it is a brand computer you can buy a media for $19 which has the preloaded software from Dell/HP or what have you and it doesn't even request the COA.

Usually/Often the branded stuff will accept the plain vanilla OEM discs, some say this is technically not authorized by MS eula. I think we've all been there.