HELP! Computer has a problem. (bonus cute cat gif inside! )

[progressoid]

When the family computer came out of standby, the monitor was blank. So I disconnected the monitor, removed the video card and plugged the monitor into the onboard video port. That seemed to work...for a couple days.

Tonight the same thing happened - blank monitor. So, I disconnected that monitor and tried a different one. Still nothing - blank monitor.

I also tried to boot from the XP CD but it seems like it's not even getting to the boot stage.

Now what should I try?

[struggle4progress]

1. You should probably go to the computer forum -- and post some detailed info

Make model year of box
This matters become different machines have different diagnostics. Some, for example, have LED indicators that may tell you what's wrong

Does it have a beep speaker that beeps during boot?
If so, does it still beep during boot?
If so, what does it beep?
Meaning of beeps depends on make model &c

Any chance you can get into the BIOS? If so, are the settings correct?

Are all the fans turning?
When you open the case, do you see obvious signs of overheating or of electrical damage?
The one machine that I used, that unquestionably died on me, died because an important fan gave out and the machine simply fried

What's the operating system?
Any luck booting (say) Knoppix?

[progressoid]

7. Yeah, I was going to do that but I lost my star so I can't post there.

I think this might be something I'll have to work on when I've had some more sleep. ;)
It's been a looong day; I don't know why I thought I could get this solved tonight.

Thanks for the tips but I think I'm going to hit the shower and then the bed.

:hi:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. I have no clue, but the cat is really cute.

[progressoid]

6. Here's another one...

:)

[UTUSN]

3. I'm a total non-tech, lowest of the low, so don't do anything by what I say

but there might be something called a "hard reset" that somebody ELSE WHO KNOWS might tell you is applicable or not. Tech support led me through something like this many months ago, and I have NO idea whether it's your situation, but it sounds familiar. My lack of inforation here at least offers something to ask about.

[progressoid]

9. My brain needs a hard reset!

I'm going to tackle this tomorrow after I've had a little sleep. I can't even finish...zzzz....zzzz....

[csziggy]

4. I always had problems with XP coming out of standby or hibernation

Sometimes with the monitor, sometimes the mouse or keyboard. It is a known XP problem.

Try some of the solutions here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/907477

[progressoid]

5. Thanks, I've been looking through that list.

I think we've gone beyond those problems. Now I can't even get it to boot. The fans come on but that's about it.

:grr:

[csziggy]

10. How old is the computer? What brand?

About the time XP was getting in full swing there was a problem with capacitors on motherboards - pirated technology with shortcuts meant that the capacitors would go bad much sooner than they should have. A LOT of motherboard manufacturers bought the cheaper, counterfeit capacitors. Dell computers and Asus motherboards were particularly prone to this failure.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_plague

If you feel competent in looking inside the box, open it up and look for swollen or leaking capacitors:


More of what to look for:
http://www.badcaps.net/pages.php?vid=5

Likely if this is the problem, the computer is toast. Replacing the capacitors is not worth it on motherboards of that age - never was by the time the capacitors gave out. The good news is that the harddrive(s) will not be affected so your data should be OK.

I had one mobo that was unstable with various problems for three years before I realized what the problem was. PITA because the problems varied - I'd "fix" one and another would pop up. When I opened the case, ALL the capacitors looked like the worst one in the photo. I didn't have time to build a new computer (I had built the one that went bad) so I took it into a local shop. He had problems with the new mobo and tested the power supply - it was bad. He opened it and ALL the capacitors were bad and leaking!

So it may be new computer time. Sorry for the pessimistic outlook.

[applegrove]

8. Pretty kitty. "making butter" as we call it in our family.

[Duer 157099]

11. Try replacing the motherboard battery

I think they're a CR2032. That's always the first thing to try, imho.

[meegbear]

12. Have you verified the monitor is not the problem?