PC powers up but no screen and no HDD activity? Dead HDD?

[flashish]

Hi guys.

My XP home evesham laptop BSOD'd last night when i tried to extract some rar files. After fiddling around in safe mode and removing/refitting the HDD it all went back to normal, ran all night no problem.

Then just now the machine froze, I rebooted and the activity lights were flashing but the screen did not come on.

I removed and refitted the HDD again, but now when I power the machine up, the fans start spinning but the screen stays black and the HDD activity light stays dead.

Has the hard drive failed? (I also removed/refitted the ram) I'll double check everything is preoperly seated, but as long as it's doing this, there's no way I can repair it is there? (With an xp disk etc)

Thanks for any help

[flashish]

Ok just to add, I've replaced the HDD with a new one, and it is still exactly the same.

Power light comes on, fan spins, and absolutely nothing else :(

MOBO dead? Where can I get it diagnosed? Should I avoid PCWorld/TechGuys? THink its only about £30?

[The Phone Guy]

Not alot else to change m8 on a laptop...

Next will be memory...
Try one stick in there and see what happens...
Try and borrow some mem from a m8 and test it....

[ukfones]

Unplug any external devices. Remove the hard drive. Try turning on and see what happens. See if you can borrow some other memory to try.

[flashish]

Thanks for the replies so far.

Tried powering up with both HDD and RAM removed, still absolutely nothing.

I'm close to giving the thing a smack to see if it helps :(

[KrayzieVanh]

That's weird that it's not booting to POST. It could be your RAM, Mobo, or CPU. Maybe your PSU. Since it's a laptop it's unlikly.

You'll have to test those components to see which one is bad.

[Van Nugent]

The new HDD is the main suspect :). Make sure its jumper is in the correct position (i.e. single drive, Master, Slave). You may have a bad drive if the jumper is already in the correct position. To know if the new HDD or the memory has caused the problem, remove the HDD then boot the laptop up to see if it can give you a POST screen. If you've got the POST screen, the HDD is likely a bad drive.

[ukfones]

The laptop wont POST without memory inserted. It will however POST without the HDD. Also if possible connect an external monitor to the laptop to make sure the screen has not gone faulty.

If it wont POST without the HDD then looks like its the RAM / motherboard or CPU.

[flashish]

I really appreciate the replies.

@VanN- the problem started before I installed the new HDD.

I have tried booting without the HDD attached, and still the same routine: power light, fans, but no screen and no HDD light.

Am I right in thinking the light that flickers on a PC/laptop is HDD activity? Not CPU activity? So then I suppose I shouldn't be expecting to see it flicker if I boot without the HDD attached?


I will try booting with my PC monitor connected to the VGA. Though would that not have to be activated in screen settings? Or is it just automatic?

Big thanks for taking the time to reply guys :tup:

[Van Nugent]

@VanN- the problem started before I installed the new HDD.Then we know the HDD was not the cause of the problem. However, if we're in doubt whether the RAM or the HDD has caused the problem, a simple test of removing the HDD as I said above would tell. If the system can boot to POST screen after the HDD is removed, the HDD is bad. If it can't, the RAM may be bad.

Now after we've ruled out the HDD, the problem may be caused by either bad RAM, bad CPU/transformer, or inadequate cooling. You need to check to make sure the CPU fan is in good working condition and do a good clean up (vacuum) for the laptop, especially the ventilation holes.

[Bcfaigg]

Just a thought - unplug the laptop, remove the battery.

Press and hold the power button for about 30 seconds - I am not sure what this does exactly, but I had a pc that did this to me - the day I was supposed to submit my Masters Thesis :(. It was an Evesham, and when I rang the chappie, this is what he told me to do - and it worked.

Good luck.
Bcfaigg

[flashish]

Just a thought - unplug the laptop, remove the battery.

Press and hold the power button for about 30 seconds - I am not sure what this does exactly, but I had a pc that did this to me - the day I was supposed to submit my Masters Thesis :(. It was an Evesham, and when I rang the chappie, this is what he told me to do - and it worked.

Good luck.
Bcfaigg

Thanks mate, Evesham also intructed me to do this once in the past. It completely discharges the system, but i've tried it with no luck. Still haven't had a chance to test with another monitor yet, will report back when I do.

[flashish]

Okay, tried connecting my PC monitor and no joy. so I guess the last test is bung some new ram in there? I just shelled out for the replacement HDD :(

And if it still doesn't boot or post with the new ram in it.... do I have an expensive paper weight on my hands? :bawling:

[bullet90]

Have you tried re-seating the CPU ?