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Resolved No Signal With Any Monitor

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by Supermaine, 2012/01/13.

  1. 2012/01/13
    Supermaine

    Supermaine Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hello.

    I received a new monitor for Christmas. It is an Acer monitor, and my previous monitor was an HP Pavilion. I'm not sure if that matters.

    Long story short, I unplugged the HP monitor and plugged in the new Acer monitor, then booted the computer. Nothing appeared on the screen. I checked the VGA cables, eventually trying brand new ones, and still nothing.

    I thought perhaps there was something wrong with the new monitor, so I plugged my old HP monitor back in, and had the same result. The monitor comes on, the light stays green for a second or two, then turns yellow.

    The computer is booting up and running perfectly fine. The fans are spinning, and everything appears to be working as usual, except I can't get a visual on either monitor.

    I have no idea what may have caused this. As I stated, prior to plugging the new monitor in everything worked fine. Now I can't get either one to work. Any help is appreciated.
     
    Supermaine,
    #1
  2. 2012/01/13
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    It sounds like your graphics card or onboard graphics chip has failed - or the internal connections to the graphics output socket.

    We would be in a better position to advise if you had filled in your System Details

    If you have a plug in graphics card try reseating it - with the computer powered down of course.

    As this is a hardware problem IMO and not an XP issue I have moved your thread to the Hardware forum.
     
    PeteC,
    #2


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  4. 2012/01/13
    Supermaine

    Supermaine Inactive Thread Starter

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    Sorry PeteC. I usually ask questions for all of my computers on the site so I didn't fill in the specifics for a particular one. But in terms of just this computer alone, since I can't power it on, I'm unable to provide a lot of details.

    From what I know, it is an EMachine Desktop computer. I believe the model is T3092 (basing this off pictures I found on the internet). I'm not sure how I'd tell you about anything else.

    As far as reseating the graphics card, I am not really a computer guy at all. Especially when it comes to hardware. So where is the graphics card located, and how would I go about doing that?
     
    Supermaine,
    #3
  5. 2012/01/13
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    If indeed it is an eMachines T3092 it would appear to have nVidia onboard graphics chip (on the motherboard) so my suggestion to reseat the graphics card is superfluous.

    As I posted earlier it is possible that either the graphics chip has failed or that the action of removing the VGA cable resulted in a partial disconnection of the socket from the motherboard.It is impossible to say which - either would result in the loss of the signal to the monitor.

    The computer would appear to be of 2004 vintage and the spec indicates that it has an 8x AGP slot for a plug in graphics card. This is old technology and it may be difficult to find such a card nowadays, maybe on eBay.

    I think your best bet is to seek help preferably from a computer savvy friend rather than a repair shop.

    There is really nothing else we can do for you on the BBS beyond suggesting possible causes.

    Another member may have further ideas.
     
    PeteC,
    #4
  6. 2012/01/13
    wildfire

    wildfire Getting Old

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    Just in case you have an addon graphics card (may have been an optional extra or if you obtained it 2nd hand perhaps the original owner added one), anyway look closely at the back of the case and see if there is another connector that matches the one you are currently plugging your monitor into. If there is the try that one and post back results.

    If not I'd agree with Pete, have a savvy friend take a look at your hardware.
     
    wildfire,
    #5
  7. 2012/01/13
    Supermaine

    Supermaine Inactive Thread Starter

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    I turned the computer around and didn't even realize the sticker was still on it. :eek:

    It's actually an eMachines T3256. Does this change anything?

    Also, there's only one connector in the back to plug the monitor into.
     
    Supermaine,
    #6
  8. 2012/01/13
    wildfire

    wildfire Getting Old

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    It may have done but in this case no, the T3256 also has integrated graphics...
    ...and there's no addon card, a local friend would appear to be your best bet.
     
    wildfire,
    #7
  9. 2012/01/13
    Supermaine

    Supermaine Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thanks for your help. Since the machine is so old anyways, I most likely will just purchase a new computer and skip getting this one worked on.

    My question now though is, if I do decide to purchase a new one, would I still be able to use the HD from the T3256 with it? Or has this problem affected the hard drive as well?
     
    Supermaine,
    #8
  10. 2012/01/13
    wildfire

    wildfire Getting Old

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    It's extremely unlikely to have affected the HD but without any display or POST beeps (I assume you don't have any or you would have said) I can't guarantee 100%.
     
    wildfire,
    #9
  11. 2012/01/14
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    To add to what Wildfire posted above and to add a note of caution .....

    It should be possible, one way or another, to connect your old hard drive up temporarily as a slave to copy the data off with the folowing rider ....

    The drive is undoubtedly IDE (PATA) - current computers use SATA drives and the motherboards do not in general have IDE connectors so a straightforward hitch up of the drive as a slave is unlikely.

    A workaround would be to purchase an IDE external drive case and fit the drive to it and use as a normal external drive - I guess such cases are still available though you may have to search.

    As a footnote the drive is ~8 years old - I would not trust it absolutely as slave or external and certainly would not use it to store irreplaceable data.
     
    PeteC,
    #10
  12. 2012/01/14
    SpywareDr

    SpywareDr SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    FWIW, Newegg.com still has several models.
     
    Last edited: 2012/01/14
    SpywareDr,
    #11
  13. 2012/01/14
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Yea - like to see the OP do a bit of legwork :)
     
    PeteC,
    #12
  14. 2012/01/15
    Supermaine

    Supermaine Inactive Thread Starter

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    Okay thanks guys for the help.
     
    Supermaine,
    #13
  15. 2012/01/15
    MrBill

    MrBill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Google what is below. That way you could stick it in your new machine.

    convert pata to sata
     
    MrBill,
    #14

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