Why will my monitor not come on

[sydneydydney]

The other day my processor made a loud and long beep and now the monitor will not come on. The monitor is fine as it will work from the laptop. I have also tried another monitor with my PC and it will not work either. Does anyone have any ideas? My PC is 4.5 years old and has been fine to date. I've been inside and checked all the connections are okay. Many thanks SD

[matt1e]

hi sydney it could be a number of things but most likey your graphic card or a memory stick faulty
do you know what bios your motherboard uses? as I dont know of the 1 long beep error code

[ajmmac]

hi sydney...-were u using the computer when u got the 1 long beep and then the image went on the monitor?--OR--had u just turned it on and at some point while trying to boot up u got a long beep and then nothing on screen?

[ACtheTROLL]

It's possible that the PSU has blown.
I've fallen foul of the "obvious" (video card).
the power unit delivers a number of feeds at 12 and 5 v
and if the regulator blows you will get the correct voltage .... but at (almost) zero crrent.

ideally you need access to spares to prove what the problem is
if not .... guessing could be expensive


your options are
Maplins sell a psu tester
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=4 5500&C=Froogle&U=45500&T=Alias&MA=PSU%20Tester

they also sell PSUs
and video cards
(but they are neither the best nor cheapest)

almost any PC PSU will do to prove the fault .... but you want to buy a reasonable unit
(250-300 watt - �20-�30)

then there is the video card? onboard graphics

the options there are new mobo (onboard)
or if onboard or seperate. a new card
4.5 years old .... don't get silly it's not worth it 128Mb max

my money is with matt1e .... sort of ......
not sure I follow the memorystick thing though.

[sydneydydney]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I didn't feel very confident about guessing, so I've asked someone to look at it for me. The mother board has gone (eek)!

Best wishes, sd

[matt1e]

you would be surprised ac Ive had it happen twice- faulty memory both times strange but true

[ACtheTROLL]

matt1e

no argument from me
the number of possibilities are unlimited .... which is why access to spares is so vital (and why my office is stacked to the ceiling with old kit)

got to admit I had a but of a blond moment ... for memory stick .... I thought USB stick!!! which was my dilemma

so in your cases ... were you using on board graphics?