Topic: Odd Computer Issue - Please help

[Kid Carrson]

To the Group:

I'm having an odd computer issue that I hope someone can help with.

The computer, a Windows XP Pro machine using an Intel Motherboard (P5D I think), works fine except that sometimes when it starts up, there is no video input recognized by the monitor.  As long as the machine is running, there is no problem.  But if I shut the machine down (which I usually do at night), there may or may not be video output when I restart the machine.  Sometimes I have to restart the machine 3 or 4 times before video will display.  And the problem seems to be getting worse.

I've tried changing video cards, using the 2nd video card slot rather than the first video card, and changing monitors, but I'm still having the problem when I start up the computer. 

Any helpful thoughts would be appreciated.

Kid Carrson

[Czar Mohab]

Might try the following, in order:

Update the drivers. Probably not the issue, but better to be sure.

Check and clean the contacts on the vid card (external) where you plug in your monitor at. Typically, an air duster is enough.

If the cable is independent of the monitor (such as an HDMI cable), try using a different cable temporarily.

Check and clean the contacts on the cable (the old/original one, if you swapped as above).

If possible, try the monitor on a different PC (based on what you've said this should be fine and can be skipped, but never hurts to be sure).

--WARNING: the following steps might seem crazy but *should* narrow down the issue, assuming the above didn't fix it--

If possible, use a different power supply, if the vid card(s) is(are) powered (typical for PCIe cards). Further, check and clean as required the contacts. If PSU swap is not possible, and you have the tools, you could test the connections for the vid card.

If possible, try the vid card(s) in a different board. Further, check and clean as required the contacts on the card AND the card slot(s).


OK, enough of that. The first steps before the warning should eliminate the monitor(s) and cable(s) as an issue. Honestly, I hope its just a dirty cable - annoying but easy to fix.

The power supply going out could (but not necessarily) cause the problem you've listed.

Lastly, if you do everything, and the problem is still there (assuming the vid card(s) work fine in a different PC board) you may have a dying motherboard. Or at least the card slot is going.

The Czar

[Kid Carrson]

Thanks so much guys.

KC

[d4v1ks]

I've a feeling that your motherboard bios need a hard reset... Have you tried it?

[Strat]

To the Group:

I'm having an odd computer issue that I hope someone can help with.

The computer, a Windows XP Pro machine using an Intel Motherboard (P5D I think), works fine except that sometimes when it starts up, there is no video input recognized by the monitor.  As long as the machine is running, there is no problem.  But if I shut the machine down (which I usually do at night), there may or may not be video output when I restart the machine.  Sometimes I have to restart the machine 3 or 4 times before video will display.  And the problem seems to be getting worse.

I've tried changing video cards, using the 2nd video card slot rather than the first video card, and changing monitors, but I'm still having the problem when I start up the computer. 

Any helpful thoughts would be appreciated.

Kid Carrson

I'm with Czar. From what you described, and the troubleshooting you did, my bet goes to Power Supply or Mainboard, in that order.

Does your PC give a post beep when it boots correctly? If so, do you get a post beep when there is no video? If there is no POST beep sometimes, that really points to a hardware failure like Power Supply or MB. In some cases it could even be RAM... It means the mainboard is not powering on correctly at all, which would also not give a video signal.

[Javora]

The other thing I would suggest is pulling all nonessential powered electronics out of the PC.  Leaving only the Motherboard/Ram/Processor, Hard drive, Power supply, and Video card.  That way if any of the other items (sound card, Lan card, etc.) developed a short somewhere, the system would start working again once these items were removed.  Then it would only be a matter of replacing these items one at a time between reboots to track down the issue.

Barring that, since you already stated that you tried different Video cards and with different Motherboard slots, I agree with Strat.  I just hope it's not the Motherboard, those things are such a pain to replace.  I would further suggest that you take the Power Supply out and take it down to a local PC repair shop.  A lot of places will test it for free.

One last thing, you don't by chance have both nVidia and AMD video drivers installed do you?  If you do that can cause problems.  I doubt you do but I'm just trying to cover all bases here.  Hope this helps.

[Kid Carrson]

Guys,

Thanks so much for all the help.  I went through almost all of the suggestions, and somewhere along the line, it seemed to be cured.

The computer had been hit by a couple of viruses before this started, and it looks like that might have been a part of the problem. 

I ended up flashing the bios (a new job for me) successfully (I think).  That seemed to help but not cure the problem (it would come back fine on a restart but not if the computer was turned totally off and then started again).  So then I removed the video drivers (Nividia) and reloaded the drivers, and for good measure I changed the video card.

It seems to be working fine now. 

If it didn't cure it, it's not for trying and it's not for getting tremendous help from you guys.  Thanks again to all who responded, and thanks to everyone who keeps this great site up and going.

Thanks.

KC