Hey! Where'd my picture go?

[jsouth4502]

Okay, it probably isn't fair for a know-nothing such as myself to come in here and beg for help with such a large problem, but maybe you can at least steer me to the right sort of person to help me out. A couple of days ago, my cpu quit working with my monitor. It still comes on, I can hear the fan and the lights blink, and the CD tray still comes in and out, but all the monitor shows is the bouncing test pattern telling me to check my cpu and cable. Well, monitor works fine with my daughter's computer, so evidently that is not the problem. Can anyone give me an idea about how to go about figuring out and fixing what's wrong? I mean, the most I've ever done is put in memory and change out a fan in my Mom's computer. I haven't a clue how to work with motherboards and video cards; I wouldn't even know what sort of replacement to get, let alone put it in. And we just moved, so I don't even know where to find a computer person to work on it (let alone one that will not charge more than a new CPU would cost).

Any advice?

Julie

[LPMiller]

loose video card? You tried the monitor on your daughters pc, but did you try her's on yours?

I'm personally convinced that AGP slots were designed to be a pain in the butt...either too tight or too loose.

[revil]

Originally posted by LPM
...in the butt...either too tight or too loose.

I think you were describing something completely different. :hmm:

[Jeffbx]

Yeah, try removing & replacing the video card. Just open your PC, find the video card, pull it out & put it back in. It may have worked its way loose during your move.

If it still doesn't work, the good news is that video cards are really cheap these days. They're also easy to install, so don't worry about that.

[Grimm]

Originally posted by Jeffbx
If it still doesn't work, the good news is that video cards are really cheap these days. They're also easy to install, so don't worry about that.

:confused:
Video cards are the single most expensive component in most PCs.

[Jeffbx]

Sure, if you're a game junkie. For everyday use, you can pick up a GeForce 2 for about $50. I'd say that's pretty reasonable. Or you can get an 8 or 16MB ATI for even less than that. I'm guessing that Julie isn't in need of a high end graphics subsystem.

[Grimm]

If you're not playing games, why do you even need a computer???

[jsouth4502]

Why, to find deals, of course!

I found a friend of a friend to look at it (after I took the cover off and darn near choked over the cloud of dust but still couldn't figure it out). Turns out that as a Compaq there is no separate video card. Anyway, he thought it was the power supply, which is also proprietary, so now I have to track one of those down. I do solemnly swear never to buy another Compaq again.

Thanks for your help, though. I am very appreciative of the willingness to help in here. And if I ever get these kids through college and have money left over, you all can help me build my own system ;)

Julie
who knows, maye I could take up games...

[eSDee]

Originally posted by Jeffbx
Yeah, try removing & replacing the video card. Just open your PC, find the video card, pull it out & put it back in. It may have worked its way loose during your move.



Make sure the power is off when you do this. :P

I had a Compaq not too long ago. It was pretty decent machine but not too good for upgrading. Did you try your daughters monitor on your computer? Power supply doesn't sound right.

[jsouth4502]

I did try it with the other monitor, and got the same problem. My friend's friend thought it was the power supply because there were no beeps when booting. After an incredibly long search Friday I finally found a Compaq power supply for $80. Sure hope it works!

**** It did NOT work. It didn't change a thing. This kind of hacks me off, because it was non-returnable. I'm making a big assumption here; as everything else except the modem seems to be attached to that big green board on the bottom, I'm probably going to have to replace said big green board in order to get it to work again, aren't I.

So, wheres the best place to get an extremely inexpensive computer?

Julie

[Edited by jsouth4502 on 07-24-2001 at 01:11 PM]

[yippiekiyeh]

Cheap is such a relative term... name a price range and what this computer is going to be doing for a majority of the time and I'm sure many of us can tell you/come up with a configuration that will fit your budget.

Building your own by far is the most fun and cheapest way!

[Edited by yippiekiyeh on 08-02-2001 at 12:21 PM]