Computer problem. Nothing displays on startup

[bowdown]

I turn on my desktop PC and it seems to power up just fine but nothing will display. The monitor is blank with the yellow (sleep mode) light on, the keyboard and mouse don't have any lights showing either.

The internet cable in the back is flashing properly like always.

The CPU fan inside seems to be running in a bit of an up and down rhythm. It runs normally for a few seconds and then speeds up for a couple seconds before going back into normal speed.

CPU: AMD Phenom II x6 1045t
GPU: ATI Radeon 5670 1GB
RAM: 6 GB

I tried removing and replugging my RAM but that didn't do anything.

Any ideas to what the problem might be?

[Andrew]

If nothing at all is being displayed, it could be an issue with your video card or monitor. The first thing to do would be to try another monitor; if everything comes on as normal, then your monitor has likely packed it in. If you run into the same problem, your video card might have given up the ghost.

[Fitzy]

When you turn the computer on, does it 'beep' at you? It should give you one short beep which lets you know all the internals are okay.

If it does beep, it could either be a dodgy monitor, or perhaps the cable (DVI, HDMI, VGA) you are using to connect the computer to it.

But if the fans spin up, lights come on and nothing else happens, it could be a hardware failure!

[bowdown]

I get no beep and not even the mouse or keyboard lights up.

[Andrew]

Then as Fitzy said, that's likely an indication of a more serious hardware issue.

[shadowgrin]

Best case scenarios are there some loose cables inside, you need to replace your power supply, or faulty/damaged RAM.

Worst case is your CPU got fried.

If the CPU fan is working the motherboard might be ok and it's the other hardware that died on you.

[SoF'nAwesome]

If anything was fried shouldn't there be a burning rubber type of smell?

I had this same problem two times. Once it was the power supply and the other time it was just dirt. Took it to a store and they cleaned it up. After that, it was fine.

I would suggest changing the power supply. But before doing that, try to run your PC with the internal graphics card. But if all these don't work, you might have to change your motherboard. I know, not what you want to hear.

[shadowgrin]

You don't smell anything when your hardware is fried with static discharge from a faulty power supply or when you touch your hardware carelessly even though there is always money in the banana stand NO TOUCHING.

[SoF'nAwesome]

I see. I didn't know that.

BTW, why didn't bowdown reply? Give us an update man. We are concerned citizens here

[bowdown]

So far it has begun to start properly occasionally but sometimes same problem. Not sure why.

[shadowgrin]

Check the power button. The button itself. The button/internal spring might be faulty so when you press it stays in the pressed position without being noticeable.
Some desktop PCs go to a sleep/suspend mode when the power button is pressed for a long time, that's why nothing appears and the fan keeps working. Normally you can wake up the PC by pressing a keyboard key but since the power button is always pressed on it stays in sleep/suspend.
Check the power button if dirt or other stuff might be in between the little spaces, if there are spaces, that might keep the button pressed on.


Check the connection of the wires from the power button to the motherboard, make sure it isn't loose on the motherboard end.
Check connection of the wires from power supply to motherboard, can't be loose.


If you get it to power up again...
Check BIOS settings. Check power management options if it has one. Disable shite that has something to do with sleep/suspend on the power button.

[SoF'nAwesome]

Wow. Shadowgrin wtf do you do irl? Butcher, IT or only faithful Arsenal fan?

bowdown, I'm pretty sure it's the power supply. Your fans might not be working properly because of the weak power supply, hence the sudden holdups.

[bowdown]

Thanks for the suggestions. If I get something done with it I'll let you guys know.