No signal?

[slimcan]

I have an e machine with XP. When I start it, all I get is no signal on the monitor.


Cpu fan goes on, however I do not hear the hard drive make any noise. Not sure how to pin point why it does not start

[sportyinc]

There are three main reasons why a computer may not boot.
1. Memory: do you hear any beeps? If yes, record the exact sequence.
2. Video
3. Processor
A fourth could be a bad MB.
A fifth could be the PS, but since your fans run, this is doubtful.

Things to try:
1. remove memory and put back in.
2. clear CMOS (bios)
3. check video. Do you have onboard or video card?
if card, remove and put back in.
4. Only way to test the processor is to put in known good one. Or put yours in a known good MB.
5. Check 4 or 8 prong plug going to MB.

If that doesn't work, I would disconnect or remove all unnecessary cards and cables. Including Hard Drive and DVD drives.

If that doesn't work you could try installing a known good video card.

Good Luck.

[slimcan]

vidio is on board, checked plug. Need to do the ohter things you said.

I do not get any beeps at start up.........

[sportyinc]

If you were hearing a set of beeps, you would at least know where to look.
Without the beeps, you will need to try all the steps until it finally boots.
Since you have on-board video, you can try installing a good AGP or PCI video card to test the on-board video.
If nothing works, it is probably a bad Motherboard or Processor.
The only way to test the MB and Processor is to test the Processor in another MB and install a good processor into your MB.
If the processor works in a known good MB, then your MB is probably bad.

Good Luck

[slimcan]

I did steps 1, 5 and removed the battery for 10 min, and it started after about 1 hour later. So the video card must be good and the processor. Since the hard drive is the only moving part, is it safe to say the drive is going bad?

Is it safe to say a when a processor , mother board, or ram go bad they never work again. But a drive can freeze up making a computer work then unfreeze itself some how , which gives me this trouble of starting only sometimes


Things to try:
1. remove memory and put back in.
2. clear CMOS (bios)
3. check video. Do you have onboard or video card?
if card, remove and put back in.
4. Only way to test the processor is to put in known good one. Or put yours in a known good MB.
5. Check 4 or 8 prong plug going to MB.