Computer/Monitor not working Help???

07/23/2007 10:17:36 PM · #1

My husband took our computer apart today to add some new RAM to it. When he took it apart it was a mess so he took it outside and used a can of air to clean it out. When he got it all hooked up it is not working right. The computer turns on and you can here it booting up like normal but nothing will come up on the monitor. We tried hooking up other computers to the monitor and they work fine. It just seems not to be putting anything out to the monitor.

I hate to have to take it into the shop to have it fixed. I just paid a guy to come out and look at it because it was running slow. He is the one who told me to get more RAM.

I should not have had my hubby install the RAM. I was just trying to save another service call.

Anyone have a clue to what could be wrong?

fotomann_forever

07/23/2007 10:20:15 PM · #2

My first thought is that the video card might be loose.

07/23/2007 10:23:53 PM · #3

What does that look like?

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/23/2007 10:26:55 PM · #4

First thing todo if nothing obvious works is take the ram back out. If this does not solve anythign then its not the ram. Make sure all sticks are in and locked down tight.

Check all other cards. Installing ram isnt hard but sometimes u knock something out or dont get it in all the way dont worry.

Delta_6

Canon EOS-7D

07/23/2007 10:29:03 PM · #5

Originally posted by JenniferDavidGA:

What does that look like?

The video card is the thing the monitor cable plugs into.

07/23/2007 10:33:17 PM · #6

We tried taking the RAM out and the same thing happened.

I tried pushing everything in to make sure they where tight enough but I was scared to mess around with it too much. I know nothing of the enter workings of computers.

I will keep messing with it. I am not going to hurt anything if I unplug and replug things?

07/23/2007 10:33:50 PM · #7

Originally posted by Delta_6:

Originally posted by JenniferDavidGA:
What does that look like?

The video card is the thing the monitor cable plugs into.

Which depending on the PC might not have one, if your monitor plug plugs into the side where everything else does keyboard and what not. Then its built in you dont have one dont worry about it.

If it plugs into one of the expansion slots then the card that it attaches to. Most computers dont come with one, some do, many can add a better one later.

07/23/2007 10:35:23 PM · #8

Originally posted by JenniferDavidGA:

If you knew where everything went Id tell you todo what I used todo. Back in the day when a machine wouldn't work id unplug every single thing, Only plug in what i needed to boot into the bios. Id replug in each device there after and bam it worked....

BUT DONT DO THAT, you might forget where this or that goes, You should be fine be careful with connectors you should be perfectly fine.

07/23/2007 10:35:25 PM · #9

The monitor plugs into the back right below the mouse and keyboard.

07/23/2007 10:35:54 PM · #10

Originally posted by JenniferDavidGA:

The monitor plugs into the back right below the mouse and keyboard.

Onboard Video, so thats one thing to not worry about.

07/23/2007 10:36:29 PM · #11

Yea if I unplugged everything I would be screwed trying to put it back together. I wil unplug one thing at a time and see if that helps.

07/23/2007 10:44:57 PM · #12

Originally posted by JenniferDavidGA:

Yea if I unplugged everything I would be screwed trying to put it back together. I wil unplug one thing at a time and see if that helps.

Dont bother with the processor btw, it wont be the problem and youd risk damaging the pins.

Acoutning for onboard video, Make sure the ram is in and in tight, The power connector is in and tight, any cards in and tight if u think u need to remove their screw pull them out push them back in, replace the srcew. Check all floppy, Hard drive and cdrom drive cables on both ends.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II

07/23/2007 10:48:54 PM · #13

Thanks for all the help. I am going to mess with it some more and then go to bed. I have a headache from this computer today. I will let you know in the morning if I got it working.

Thanks again!!!!

pixelpig

Sony Alpha a55

Sony DT 50mm f/1.8 SAM

07/23/2007 10:56:15 PM · #14

If you have the book on your computer, look up the page that tells you what you can put in for memory, & where. You have to follow the guidelines. You have to push the memory sticks in hard enough that it starts to hurt your fingers. There are little plastic locks that snap into place when you push them in far enough.

bergiekat

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

07/24/2007 12:01:53 AM · #15

Originally posted by pixelpig:

This is so true. I added RAM to my last pc and I was thinking it was going to break..then, snap...it popped completely in. Had to do this 4-5 times before I got it in all the way.

IAmMoen

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/24/2007 02:05:38 AM · #16

Originally posted by bergiekat:

Originally posted by pixelpig:
If you have the book on your computer, look up the page that tells you what you can put in for memory, & where. You have to follow the guidelines. You have to push the memory sticks in hard enough that it starts to hurt your fingers. There are little plastic locks that snap into place when you push them in far enough.

This is so true. I added RAM to my last pc and I was thinking it was going to break..then, snap...it popped completely in. Had to do this 4-5 times before I got it in all the way.

Yea ram can be a little harrowing the first time that you do it.

To the OP!!! If you give me a little bit of information on your system at all I might be able to help (this would mainly be to prove definatively whether or not it has integrated graphics). Or if you take a picture of the insides and outsides I will probably be able to get all the information about it. Two things, if it is integrated graphics (and by the sound of where you plug your monitor into it most certainly is) and the ram is not inserted properly I doubt it would display because integrated graphics rely on ram for its memory.
When you are doing all this troubleshooting just remember when unplugging and replugging all your stuff make sure the computer is unplugged from the wall and you are GROUNDED! If this replugging doesnt solve the problem then you might have to begin questioning the hubby about his air cleaning. I have heard of people using compressed air and actually blowing something right off the motherboard. Also if you shake or tip the can of compressed air while using it it produces moisture which can obviously have disastrous consequenses to the computer.

Oh and I am sure he did but just make sure your hubby lined up the slot of the ram with the ridge of the ram slot otherwise there is no way it would ever be seated properly.

Message edited by author 2007-07-24 02:09:50.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

07/24/2007 09:54:09 AM · #17

Thanks everyone for your help. This morning I took the RAM back out and tried to put it back in. The little button at the top that holds the RAM in broke off. I have it back on but I don't think it is on there good enough. I can't find anything that is anywhere near loose. Most of the things I can't even get unplugged.

For the previous poster- it is a gateway 816GM
Here is a picture

Bobster

Canon EOS-20D

07/24/2007 08:20:37 PM · #18

does the graphics card (first card under the CPU) have a power connector that could have been knocked off?

have you made sure its seated in the slot correctly?

07/24/2007 08:35:25 PM · #19

Here is the back of her machine, it appears to have two GPU's one onboard and one add in. WHich one do you normaly plug into and have you tried both?

That nVidia add in does not have a power connector on it its a Monza series.

Looking inside the case this is a clean cut machine, its not messy with cables or things to knock out of place. Its something simple, and we keep covering the basics.

Message edited by author 2007-07-24 20:36:59.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

07/24/2007 11:17:42 PM · #20

Originally posted by RainMotorsports:

Here is the back of her machine, it appears to have two GPU's one onboard and one add in. WHich one do you normaly plug into and have you tried both?

You guys are great!!! I feel like the worlds dumbest blonde. We have two ports to plug the monitor into and it was in the wrong one. I called the computer guy to come and fix it and as soon as he got here he plugged it into the right one and it worked just fine. I felt so stupid.

Thank you for all your help. I am sorry if I wasted anyones time with my stupidity.

Message edited by author 2007-07-24 23:18:05.

Bobster

Canon EOS-20D

07/25/2007 07:20:26 PM · #21

why? you didn't know that the machine had 2 VGA ports..

had u waited a little longer we could have saved him a trip ;)

MikeJ

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

07/25/2007 09:48:50 PM · #22

A blonde is a repairmen's best friend.

;D

Glad you got it working. Sometimes what happens is the connector that plugs into the computer will get a bent pin when it's plugged in and that will keep it from getting a signal as well. Luckily it wasn't that though.

Mike