Intermittent Start Up ... Power Supply ... Video Card?

[Ray1000]

I've been having problems starting my desktop ... seems worse when cold.

 

While the tower starts ... the monitor remains off ... several resets later it starts properly.

 

Convinced it was the power supply I changed it for a secondhand one yesterday and it struck up instantly and was OK all day.

 

This morning it failed to start.

 

While I'm writing this I'm wondering if it could be the connections on the video card to MB? Or a separate video card problem?

 

It makes all the right noises as though it has started properly ... just the monitor remains blank.

 

... and, if it could be related to my Google Earth problem on the other thread.

 

Ray

[KenB]

Hi Ray

 

Sounds very much like a Video Card problem.

Take the card out - give the contacts a clean with a pencil eraser and put the card back in.

 

Try again.

 

Check the cable connection at the back of the pc for bent / broken pins.

Move this about to see if there is any reaction on screen.

 

Try the monitor on another system - just to rule this out.

 

If it still fails to show anything on screen I would be inclined to try a different video card in the system.

[Ray1000]

Thank you Ken,

 

Earlier today I gave the video card connections a bit of exercise without fully unplugging it ... it's been OK since but I'll take it out and do as you suggest as soon as I get chance.

 

I don't normally have the sound turned on but I've put it on now working on this assumption ... when it "fails" to start if the windows start up music plays it will show it is a video problem ... I think:confused:

 

Ray

Edited March 12, 2013 by Ray1000

[Plastic Nev]

Good idea about the Windows start up music Ray, if everything on the computer has loaded it will play.

 

Nev.

[Ray1000]

Thank you Nev,

 

Ray

[KenB]

I thought - from your first post - that this was the case and you were getting the Windows Chimes :)

It makes all the right noises as though it has started properly .

However - if you have just enabled sound then we need to know if the hard drive is booting up normally ............ but without Video.

[Ray1000]

Sorry for the confusion Ken,

 

I rarely have the speakers turned on, I was referring to the familiar whirring of the various fans and drives.

 

Out of interest it started up this morning with no problems ... if it carries on for a week I'll change the power supply back to the newer, quieter one and clean the video card connections properly.

 

Ray

[KenB]

Sorry for the confusion Ken,

No problem Ray -it doesn't take much to confuse me these days :)

 

Keep us informed as to how you are getting on.