blank computer screen from teenage Hell

[HoundTree]

OK, I signed off on the ultimate dumb idea, to repair the computer of my girlfriend who has kids who play games on it.

It worked fined until a few days ago. Then it started going black within a few seconds of being turned on. Then the power gave way altogether and there was nothing when the power switch turned on. So, I replaced the power supply. Now the computer power comes on and stays on. But the screen is still black. I tried it on different monitors. Nothing. I tried it (XP system) in safe mode. Still a black screen. I tried booting to an MS-DOS bootable floppy. Nothing, but the floppy light does come on. When the computer is on, I can hear the hard drive working - this may be the antivirus program checking the hard drive, but I don't know since I can't see anything on the screen.

I suspect there was an electrical event of some sort since more than one thing seems to have gone wrong at the same time. Now I need to know the next step.

It's an XP operating system and a Radeon graphics card has been installed. I assume that is probably the next thing to explore.

Should I try to replace the graphics card?
Should I try to get it to run with the original onboard graphics (on the motherboard)? And if so, how?

Any other suggestions on what would be the next logical step...

[ktkendall]

Yes you want to either try her graphics card in your machine to see if its good or get a replacement vid card for hers. Problem is you really want to be able to test components out before you spend money to replace a part and find that was not the problem. I've seen power supplies go and take the motherboard out and even take the drives out with them, or could be visa versa, the mobo is shot and shorted out the power and took the power supply with it. Do you get any beep codes whan you try to boot it up?? IF no beep codes than it may be more than just vid card wrong.. Could be motherboard out also..

[wafflepunk]

Do you have the manual for your mobo? Is the system beeping at all when you load it up? Assuming you haven't turned off the POST beeps, the beeps actually relay error message info, such as problems with the video card, etc. Just look up what the beeps mean in your manual or on the manufacturer's website. If it's not beeping at all, you've probably got a mobo problem, unless it didn't beep before either. Some mobos don't beep by default, but most beep once to indicate successful POST, in my experience.

[baja_01]

Have you tried the monitor on a different computer?

[HoundTree]

Thanks for the excellent replies.

Yes, I tried the computer on three monitors. Same response.

The mother board makes NO beeping when turned on. And it did beep when turned on previously when it was working alright.

It's about two years old so I am thinking about just replacing it and then letting the boys "work" on the old one to get a bit of an education. My question is, if I pull out the Radeon graphics card and put it in a new machine, is there any chance it could damage the new computer? If there is a problem with that graphics card, am I risking doing some damage to a new, good machine by putting it in?

[diver203_98]

This is just a thought. But when you replaced the power supply, did you plug the video card into the new power supply as well? Most of the newer video cards reguire a direct connection to the power supply, and connect by way of one of the molex connectors from the power supply. But, I am sure you already checked that though.

Although you can put the Radeon card in another computer, which would be a very good test to see if it does work. You don't risk damaging anything if the card doesn't work

[HoundTree]

I'll see if she has the owners manual on the video card. But when I took the old power supply out, I'm positive I did NOT unplug anything from the video card. But I'll double-check it. I've never put in or taken out a video card, so that possiblity never occured to me.

[skeeter]

When my Radeon 9700 PRO died, it acted the same way. Sounds like video card. If you have a spare video card I would try it before going to the trouble of replacing the motherboard. After all, if it is the video card the problem will still be there.